Israel Warns U.S. of Alleged Iranian Plot to Assassinate Trump

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials were reviewing Israeli intelligence Thursday about an alleged new Iranian plan to assassinate President Donald Trump. The warning arrived during the week of July 6 as renewed strikes pushed a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire toward collapse.

Israel described the information as a specific plot, rather than another general threat against Trump. However, American agencies had not independently verified the claim or tracked the reported operation before receiving the warning.

U.S. Reviews Israeli Intelligence

Two people familiar with the matter said Israel shared specific intelligence about a newly devised Iranian plan. Public information does not identify suspected participants, a proposed location, an attack method, or a timetable.

The lack of disclosed detail limits what can be confirmed outside classified channels. It also leaves unclear whether the intelligence described early discussions, active surveillance, or an operation nearing execution.

U.S. agencies had already monitored recurring threats involving Iran and senior American officials. The Israeli warning stood apart because it allegedly concerned a distinct plan that American officials had not previously detected.

Some officials also considered Israel’s strategic interest in shaping Trump’s decisions on Iran. Israel has pressed Washington to maintain military pressure and remains skeptical of renewed diplomacy with Tehran.

That concern does not disprove the intelligence. Intelligence services routinely examine both the evidence and the interests of the government providing it.

Analysts will likely seek intercepted communications, financial transfers, travel records, and surveillance activity. They must also establish whether Iranian authorities directed any planning or whether individuals acted without authorization.

Trump Addresses Iranian Threats

Trump told reporters Wednesday that Iran wanted to kill the American president. He said he appeared on multiple target lists and described himself as fortunate to have avoided harm.

He later referred to a new list that placed him at the top. The White House did not clarify whether that list involved the same intelligence Israel delivered this week.

The administration did not release additional details about security measures or the alleged plot. Changes to presidential protection are rarely disclosed because public explanations can reveal routes, procedures, or intelligence capabilities.

A credible foreign threat could affect travel, public appearances, and coordination with allied security agencies. It could also prompt reviews of protection for current and former officials linked to Iran policy.

Soleimani Killing Remains Central

Iranian threats against Trump have persisted since a U.S. drone strike killed Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020. Trump ordered the strike during his first presidential term.

Soleimani commanded the Quds Force, the overseas operations arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian leaders repeatedly promised revenge for his death.

Federal prosecutors later accused Iranian operatives and associates of pursuing attacks against Trump and other Americans. Those earlier cases do not prove the latest allegation, but they explain why agencies treat new warnings seriously.

In November 2024, prosecutors charged Farhad Shakeri, an alleged Iranian government asset believed to be in Tehran. A criminal complaint accused him of receiving instructions to develop a plan to kill Trump before the 2024 election.

Shakeri allegedly told investigators that an IRGC official assigned him on October 7, 2024. He remained at large when the charges were announced.

Two New York men also faced charges connected to a separate alleged plan targeting an Iranian American government critic. All criminal allegations remain unproven unless established in court.

Ceasefire Nears Breaking Point

The assassination warning reached Washington as the United States and Iran exchanged fresh military threats and attacks. Trump declared Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement was over, ending a 60-day negotiating window that had already weakened.

Diplomatic contacts continued behind the scenes despite the renewed violence. Washington and Tehran had been working toward a nuclear agreement by mid-August.

Military preparations also continued. Crews aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln loaded weapons onto fighter aircraft and conducted drills for possible strike missions.

Pilots maintained routine defensive operations throughout the day and night. Commanders warned the carrier’s crew that regional tensions were increasing.

The combination of military readiness and continuing diplomacy reflects the administration’s narrow choices. A confirmed assassination plan could reduce political space for negotiations and increase pressure for retaliation.

An unverified warning, however, would not by itself establish legal or strategic grounds for a wider war. U.S. officials must determine the source, intent, capability, and authorization behind the alleged plan.

Trump and Netanyahu Confer

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone Thursday as officials assessed the threat and regional fighting. Trump spoke with Netanyahu about U.S. activity in the Persian Gulf and related security issues.

Netanyahu is expected to visit Washington for further talks. No date had been publicly confirmed by the time the intelligence warning became known.

The two leaders share concerns about Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities but differ over tactics. Netanyahu has questioned diplomatic efforts, while Trump has alternated between negotiations and military action.

Their discussions are expected to cover Iran’s nuclear program, renewed strikes, threats against U.S. officials and the future of the ceasefire. The alleged assassination plan will likely affect those talks even before American agencies complete their review.

For now, no U.S. agency has publicly confirmed the plot’s details or announced an arrest connected to it. Officials continue examining the Israeli intelligence as military forces remain prepared and diplomatic contacts continue.