Lead

Israeli officials have presented the Trump administration with new intelligence indicating that Iran is allegedly plotting to assassinate US President Donald Trump, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and CNN, as cited by multiple news outlets. The warning comes as the US and Iran face renewed hostilities over the Strait of Hormuz, and as Trump's use of an older Air Force One plane upon returning from a NATO summit in Turkey sparked speculation about security concerns.

Coverage Comparison

Reports about the alleged plot were carried by France 24, The Jerusalem Post, South China Morning Post, TASS, and The Hindu, all citing The Wall Street Journal and CNN as their sources. While most accounts described the intelligence as new and specific, a TASS report quoted US officials as deeming the information "not entirely credible." Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman dismissed the reports, stating that such issues were never discussed in negotiations.

The Jerusalem Post added that the report follows recent attacks between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz and noted that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone about the Iran conflict.

Key Claims

  • Intelligence Sharing: Israel shared intelligence with the US about a new and "specific" Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump, as reported by The Wall Street Journal and CNN, citing unnamed sources. This claim was carried by France 24, The Jerusalem Post, South China Morning Post, TASS, and The Hindu.
  • Iran's Revenge Motive: Tehran has for years vowed to retaliate against Trump for ordering the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in January 2020, according to France 24 and The Hindu.
  • US Monitoring: The US has monitored a "steady drumbeat" of intelligence about possible plots against Trump, but this warning from Israel was new, as reported by CNN, cited by France 24 and The Hindu.
  • Military Operations: The US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, with airstrikes killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to TASS.
  • Ceasefire Agreement: Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding in June providing for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, as reported by TASS.
  • US Officials' Doubts: US officials believed the intelligence was not entirely credible, according to The Wall Street Journal, as cited by TASS. The report also said Trump used an older plane because the new jet lacked defensive capabilities.
  • Iran's Denial: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Iran and the US did not discuss any information about possible assassination attempts, and called Western complaints about Iranian demands for revenge "blatant impudence."

Perspectives

US Administration

The White House referred reporters to Trump's remarks, in which he said, "They want to take out the US leader – me. I'm on every single one of their lists." This was noted by France 24 and The Hindu.

Iranian Government

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei denied that assassination plots were discussed in negotiations and dismissed Western complaints as "blatant impudence," stating that Iranians were the victims of US and Israeli strikes, as reported by TASS.

Israeli Government

Israel's embassy in Washington declined to comment on the intelligence report, according to The Wall Street Journal, as cited by The Jerusalem Post.