Axios: US-Israel Strike on Iran Was Originally Planned for Feb. 21 — Delayed One Week for Intelligence and Operational Reasons

Senior US and Israeli officials told Axios that Washington and Tel Aviv originally planned to strike Iran on February 21 — one week before operations actually began — but the attack was delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions and the need for additional coordination with the Israeli military. The initial target list included Supreme Leader Khamenei, his sons, and senior Islamic Republic officials attending routine weekly meetings. During the delay, the US and Israel deliberately sent signals suggesting no attack was imminent in order to prevent Khamenei from relocating to an underground shelter. The delay also allowed for a round of Geneva talks that US officials say were genuine, though they ultimately failed to produce progress, after which Trump authorized the military operation to proceed.