Israel warns US of fresh Iranian plot to assassinate Trump

Israel has reportedly shared intelligence with the United States regarding what it described as a new and specific Iranian plot to assassinate US President Donald Trump, according to American media reports published on Thursday.

The development comes amid renewed military exchanges between Washington and Tehran that have heightened concerns over a possible return to full-scale conflict. 

It also follows questions surrounding Trump’s decision to travel aboard an older Air Force One aircraft after attending the NATO summit in Turkey.

According to CNN, citing sources familiar with the intelligence, US authorities have for some time been monitoring persistent threats linked to possible assassination attempts against Trump. However, the information recently provided by Israel was said to outline a specific and newly identified plot.

The Wall Street Journal, also quoting unnamed sources, reported that the intelligence pointed to a “fresh” assassination plan.

Iran has repeatedly threatened retaliation against Trump over the January 2020 killing of its top military commander, General Qassem Soleimani, who died in a US drone strike ordered by Trump during his first term in office.

Responding to the reports, a White House official referred reporters to comments made by Trump on Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One while returning from the NATO summit, Trump claimed he remained a target of Iran.

“They want to take out the US leader, me. I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning I’m on every single one of their lists,” he said.

Trump departed Turkey aboard his older Air Force One aircraft, while his newly acquired Qatari-donated presidential jet flew separately to Britain, where he later transferred to it for the journey back to Washington.

The unusual change of aircraft during the jet’s first overseas mission fuelled speculation that security officials were concerned about its protective capabilities, particularly as the United States had launched fresh strikes against Iran, which shares a border with Turkey.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the aircraft switch was carried out at the request of the US Secret Service as a precautionary security measure.

During a subsequent news conference, Trump declined to directly address questions about the security arrangements but made reference to what he described as previous Iranian assassination threats against him.