Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 11: US authorities are assessing intelligence provided by Israel regarding a possible Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The intelligence reportedly influenced security officials to temporarily move the President to an older, more heavily protected Air Force One during his return journey from Turkey.
The report said Israeli intelligence suggested a renewed Iranian threat targeting Trump, although several US officials questioned the credibility of the information and stressed that it did not amount to conclusive evidence of an imminent assassination attempt.
According to CNN, the intelligence appeared to reflect broader discussions among hardline elements in Tehran about targeting the US President rather than details of a specific operational plot.
The heightened security measures came as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated following fresh US military strikes ordered by Trump in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials fear the confrontation could trigger retaliatory actions against US interests and allies across the Middle East.
Trump travelled to a NATO summit in Ankara aboard a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar and later modified by the US Air Force. During his return, he transferred to an older Air Force One for part of the journey before reboarding the newer aircraft for the final leg to Washington.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the switch was made because the donated aircraft may not possess the full range of defensive systems considered necessary under elevated threat conditions. The exact security capabilities of Air Force One remain classified.
Trump, however, dismissed suggestions that the aircraft change was driven by a specific security threat. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he said he routinely faces threats and remarked that he remains "number one on their list."
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the newer aircraft, stating that it had been equipped with advanced security measures designed to ensure the President's safety.
The report also noted that some US officials questioned whether Israel's intelligence sharing was intended to encourage Washington to adopt a more aggressive military posture toward Iran. They cautioned that a single intelligence report provides only a limited understanding of any potential threat.
Responding to those suggestions, a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy said intelligence cooperation between Israel and the United States reflects the close strategic partnership between the two countries and denied any hidden agenda.
Nathan Sales, a former US State Department counterterrorism coordinator, told The Hill that Iran continues to pose a serious threat to Trump and other Americans, citing previous Iranian efforts involving assassination and kidnapping plots.
On Friday, Trump also declared that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran had come to an end, although he indicated that diplomatic talks would continue. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, "The Cease Fire is OVER!"
Threats against Trump linked to Iran are not new. During the 2024 presidential campaign, his team disclosed that US intelligence agencies had warned of what they described as "real and specific" Iranian threats aimed at assassinating him.
The hostility stems largely from Trump's decision in January 2020 to authorise the US drone strike in Baghdad that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. Since then, Iranian leaders have repeatedly vowed retaliation for Soleimani's death.