A fresh intelligence warning from Israel has brought an alleged Iranian plot targeting US President Donald Trump into focus, according to a report by CNN, which revealed that the information was recently passed to Washington even as the two countries struggle to keep a fragile ceasefire from unravelling.
Citing two sources familiar with the matter, the report said the Israeli warning was conveyed earlier this week and pointed to what was described as a specific assassination plot. While US intelligence agencies had already been receiving a steady stream of threat-related intelligence concerning Trump in recent weeks, the Israeli input reportedly introduced a new lead that American officials had not been tracking earlier.
The report said US authorities have neither independently verified the Israeli intelligence nor confirmed the existence of the alleged plot. Two sources familiar with the matter told CNN that Washington was not monitoring the specific threat before Israel flagged it, and the precise details of the purported plan remain unclear.
The development comes against the backdrop of renewed friction between Washington and Tehran, with the 60-day ceasefire between the two sides under strain amid fresh exchanges of threats and military strikes.
US yet to verify Israeli intelligence
According to CNN, some US officials also believe the Israeli intelligence could be viewed as part of a broader effort by Israel to influence Trump's deliberations over whether to step up military action against Iran. One source reportedly said sections of the US intelligence community remain cautious when assessing Israeli intelligence reporting.
Asked about the reported Israeli warning, the White House referred to remarks Trump made earlier this week about threats to his life.
"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. 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 later said he had recently learned of a new list ranking him as Iran's top assassination target, though it remains unclear whether he was referring to the intelligence reportedly shared by Israel.
Diplomacy continues despite tensions
US officials have long warned that Iran could seek to target Trump in retaliation for the 2020 drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.
The report also said US intelligence agencies continue to monitor multiple actors who have discussed potential attacks against current and former senior American officials, though no such plans are believed to have been executed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has publicly expressed scepticism over Trump's diplomatic outreach to Iran, spoke with the US president by phone on Thursday and is expected to visit Washington soon.
Meanwhile, US officials said backchannel diplomacy with Tehran remains underway, with both sides still working towards a possible nuclear agreement by mid-August despite the deteriorating security situation.
