The United States has received intelligence from Israel warning of an alleged new Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter, adding fresh strain to already fragile diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
The intelligence, which sources said was shared this week, reportedly outlined what Israel described as a specific assassination plan targeting Trump. While US intelligence agencies have independently tracked persistent threats against the president in recent weeks, officials said the Israeli warning introduced new details that had not previously been verified by Washington.
According to the sources, the US government has not yet substantiated the Israeli intelligence and was not actively monitoring the alleged plot before receiving the warning.
American officials also suggested that the intelligence could be part of a broader Israeli effort to influence Trump’s decision as he considers whether to escalate US military involvement against Iran amid renewed regional tensions.
The US has long maintained that Iran could seek retaliation against Trump over the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, a move that sharply escalated hostilities between the two countries.
Responding to questions about the reported Israeli warning, the White House referred to remarks Trump made on Wednesday in which he claimed Iran had repeatedly targeted him.
“They want to take out the US leader , me,” Trump told reporters. “I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn’t last very long. These are evil, sick people. And we have to root out that cancer. That cancer. You know what you do? You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.”
Trump also disclosed that he had recently been informed he topped a new Iranian assassination list, although it remains unclear whether he was referring to the intelligence reportedly supplied by Israel.
LEADERSHIP reports that the latest development came as tensions between the US and Iran continue to escalate despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to revive talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Over the weekend, crowds gathered during funeral ceremonies in Iran reportedly chanted for Trump’s death following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the outset of the recent conflict.
US intelligence officials said they are currently monitoring several individuals who have discussed possible attacks against American officials but have not acted. One source said authorities remain concerned that Iran could target current and former senior US officials as part of a broader retaliation campaign.
However, officials familiar with the intelligence assessment cautioned that some within the US intelligence community remain sceptical of Israeli reporting and believe the latest warning should also be viewed within the context of Israel’s efforts to shape Washington’s policy toward Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly questioned Trump’s diplomatic approach to Iran and has previously clashed with the US president over Israeli military operations in Lebanon, which complicated negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
The two leaders held a phone conversation on Thursday, while Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington in the coming weeks for further discussions.
Despite renewed exchanges of threats and military strikes between the US and Iran, diplomatic engagement has not completely broken down.
A senior US official said negotiations aimed at securing a new nuclear agreement remain ongoing behind the scenes, with both Washington and Tehran reportedly working toward a deal by mid-August.
The official noted that although military planners had prepared for possible strikes on Thursday night, those operations were ultimately suspended to allow diplomatic efforts to continue.
Earlier on Thursday aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, fighter crews reportedly loaded aircraft with weapons and conducted combat drills in preparation for potential military action. The carrier’s commanding officer, Dan Keeler, told sailors that regional tensions were intensifying, even as routine defensive air patrols continued throughout the day and night.
