Israel warns US of new Iranian assassination plot against Trump; president says he is 'number one on the list'
Israel has shared intelligence with Washington indicating a recently developed Iranian plan to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to reports by CNN and the Wall Street Journal. Trump, speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, said he is 'number one on the list' and that his luck may not last.
Intelligence warning from Israel
Israel has passed new intelligence to the United States pointing to a fresh Iranian plot to kill President Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal and CNN reported on 9 July, citing unnamed sources. The plan was recently drawn up by Tehran's leadership, according to the reports. While US officials say Washington has received such warnings frequently, this one from Israel is described as new and includes a concrete assassination plan, though no details have been made public.
- Israel warns US of new Iranian plan to assassinate Trump, according to WSJ and CNN.
- Trump says he is 'number one on the list' and his luck may not last.
- Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei buried in Mashhad after six days of funeral processions featuring anti-Trump displays.
- Trump does not use the new Air Force One on return flight from Ankara, fueling security speculation.
Trump's response in Ankara
Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, Trump addressed the threats directly.
He later added,I am number one on the list. So far, I guess I've been a little lucky, but maybe luck won't last long.
On the return flight from the summit, Trump did not use the new Air Force One as expected, a move that fueled speculation about heightened security risks.I am their main target.
A backdrop of revenge
Iran has openly vowed revenge against Trump for years, first for the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, a top commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and now for the recent death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was buried in Mashhad on 9 July after six days of elaborate funeral processions. Mourners waved red flags symbolising the quest for vengeance and held signs reading "Kill Trump" in English, according to reports from the ceremonies.
Political calculations
One US official told CNN the Israeli warning could also be an attempt to influence Trump's decision-making in the ongoing war with Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently pushed for a much harder line against Tehran and has clashed with Trump over the approach. Neither the Israeli embassy in Washington nor Iran's UN mission commented on the intelligence reports. The White House referred inquiries to Trump's own statements in Ankara.
