Israel shared intelligence with US on alleged Iranian plot to kill Trump: report

WASHINGTON: Israel gave the United States new intelligence that it said indicated an Iranian plan to assassinate President Donald Trump.

Iran has for years threatened retaliation against Trump over the January 3, 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force. The new intelligence could deepen already heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment. Iran’s mission to the United Nations also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The White House referred the Journal to remarks Trump made on Wednesday at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkiye. Speaking there, Trump said Iran had targeted him personally.

"They want to take out the US leader—me."

Trump said. He added:

"I’m on every list. I saw this morning, I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a little bit lucky, but that maybe doesn’t last very long."

US-Iran tensions continue

The intelligence came amid renewed fighting between Iran and the United States over the past two days, following an escalation after Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran launched a wave of strikes on Thursday targeting US military infrastructure in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan. The attacks were described as retaliation for a second consecutive day of overnight US strikes.

Despite strains in relations over Iran, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone on Thursday and agreed to maintain coordination.

The developments add to a broader confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with the alleged intelligence-sharing by Israel emerging at a time when regional tensions have risen sharply and military exchanges have continued.