Israel has reportedly warned Washington that Iran is actively plotting to assassinate the US president, adding a new layer of tension to the already volatile conflict between the United States and Tehran. The Wall Street Journal reports that Israeli intelligence pointed to a fresh plan targeting President Trump, who ordered the 2020 killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Iran has long vowed revenge, though it hasn't commented on the latest allegation; Israel also declined to discuss it publicly. Trump himself hinted at the threat while speaking to reporters in the Turkish city of Ankara on Wednesday.
"They want to take out the US leader—me," he noted. "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." He added that he speaks openly about the risks to his life "a lot, because the life of a president is very dangerous," per USA Today. On his flight back to the US this week after attending a NATO summit in Turkey, which shares a border with Iran, reporters asked Trump why they were told to keep the shades drawn on the first leg of their flight to the UK, to which Trump replied it was probably due to the "sleazebags over here," an apparent reference to Iran, per the AP.
The revelation comes as Trump's relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows strain, per the Journal. Netanyahu has pushed for sustained military pressure on Iran, while Trump has advocated dialing back the conflict, warning of economic fallout and backing a shaky ceasefire reached last month. The two leaders spoke on Thursday and pledged continued coordination, according to Netanyahu's office. The news comes as public chants in Iran—most recently at the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, where a banner read "We Will Kill Trump"—underscore the risk of further escalation.
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