Fresh intelligence reportedly passed from Israel to the United States has raised new concerns over an alleged Iranian plot targeting President Donald Trump, according to reports by US media on Thursday.
The reports emerged amid renewed military exchanges between Washington and Tehran, heightening fears of another full-scale conflict.
They also followed Trump’s unexpected decision to depart Turkey after the NATO summit aboard his older Air Force One aircraft instead of his newer Qatari-gifted jet.
According to CNN, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, US officials have been tracking “a steady drumbeat” of intelligence on possible threats against Trump.
However, the report said the information provided by Israel was different because it pointed to a specific assassination plan.
The Wall Street Journal, also quoting anonymous sources, reported that the intelligence referred to a “fresh” assassination plot.
Iran has repeatedly threatened retaliation against Trump over the January 2020 killing of top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike ordered by Trump during his first term in office.
Responding to enquiries from AFP, a White House official referred to comments Trump made on Wednesday while returning from the NATO summit.
“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 told reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew home from a NATO summit.
Trump departed Turkey aboard his older Air Force One aircraft while his newer Qatari-gifted presidential jet flew separately to Britain, where he later switched planes before continuing his journey to Washington.
The unusual aircraft change during the jet’s first overseas mission sparked speculation that the newer plane lacked sufficient security features, particularly as the United States carried out fresh strikes against Iran, which shares a border with Turkey.
The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the aircraft switch was made at the request of the US Secret Service “as a security precaution.”
During a subsequent press conference, Trump avoided directly addressing questions about the security arrangements but made references to previous alleged Iranian assassination attempts against him.
