Israel alerted US to fresh Iranian assassination plot against Trump: Report
WASHINGTON, DC: Reports published on Thursday, July 9, claimed Israel recently shared intelligence with the United States indicating that Tehran had developed a new assassination plot targeting President Donald Trump.
The report, first published by The Wall Street Journal and cited by multiple outlets, comes amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran and years after Iran vowed retaliation for the 2020 US strike that killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.
Israel shares intelligence about new threat against Donald Trump
According to the report, Israeli officials recently passed intelligence to the United States suggesting Iran had developed a fresh plan to assassinate Trump.
The alleged intelligence surfaced as discussions continue over how to handle Iran following last month's conflict and the fragile ceasefire that followed US military action against Iranian nuclear sites.
While neither Israel nor Iran immediately commented on the report, it quickly drew attention because of the long-running threats Iran has made against Trump since the killing of Soleimani in Baghdad in January 2020.
The White House referred questions about the report to remarks Trump made earlier this week.
Donald Trump says Iran wants to target him
Speaking about Iran, Trump said he believes he remains a target of the country's leadership.
"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," Trump said. "And, so far, I guess I've been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn't last very long."
The president also delivered a sharp warning while discussing Iran.
"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 added.
Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu remain in contact despite policy differences
The report also noted that the intelligence emerged during a period in which Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reportedly differed on how aggressively to confront Iran following recent military clashes.
According to the report, Netanyahu has favored maintaining military pressure on Tehran, while Trump has focused on preserving a ceasefire following US strikes on Iranian targets.
Despite those differences, the two leaders spoke on Thursday and agreed to continue coordination between the United States and Israel, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office.
The statement said Trump also updated the Israeli leader on recent US activity in the Gulf region.
Iran has repeatedly vowed retaliation for the US operation that killed Soleimani, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.
According to the report, anti-Trump sentiment was also visible during recent events in Iran, where mourners at the funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reportedly chanted for Trump's death and displayed a banner reading, "We Will Kill Trump."
