Israeli Intelligence Warns US of New Iranian Assassination Plot Against Trump

Israeli intelligence has shared information with the United States indicating that Iran is planning another assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal on the night between Thursday and Friday, citing sources familiar with the details. Trump alluded to threats against his life during the NATO summit in Ankara this week, stating that Iranians "want to take down the US leader - me," and acknowledged he has been lucky so far but warned that might not last.

The Israeli embassy in Washington declined to comment on the report, and Iran's UN mission has yet to respond. The White House referred the Journal to Trump's NATO summit remarks. CNN reported that while Israel's warning was delivered this week, a steady stream of intelligence about a possible assassination attempt has reached the US in recent weeks.

In November 2024, the US Department of Justice revealed it had foiled an Iranian plot to kill Trump before his second term. The indictment named Farhad Shakiri, a Revolutionary Guard operative, who was tasked with planning surveillance and ultimately assassinating Trump. Shakiri, an Afghan national previously imprisoned in the US, recruited two New York residents as agents before being deported in 2008. He was later arrested in Sri Lanka for drug trafficking and is believed to be in Iran. In March 2024, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Shakiri was killed by US forces.

Meanwhile, Iran has escalated attacks, launching 10 missiles at Jordan, eight of which were intercepted. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy warned foreign forces to stay out of the Strait of Hormuz, threatening strong retaliation against US military actions. The US military has intercepted dozens of Iranian drones and missiles in recent days amid ongoing strikes, with over 170 Iranian targets hit by US forces in the last two days. Iran reported 14 dead and 78 wounded from these attacks.

Efforts to de-escalate continue, with Pakistan and Qatar mediating to bring the US and Iran back to negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held calls with counterparts in Oman, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing diplomacy and coordination to prevent further escalation.