Israeli intelligence has warned the United States that Iran has developed a new plan to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to CNN. The warning has heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, which have failed to reach a ceasefire agreement after months of negotiations.
Israeli Intelligence Passes Specific Threat to US
Two sources with knowledge of the matter confirmed to CNN that Israel informed US counterparts of an Iranian plot to kill President Trump. The Wall Street Journal first reported the warning. One source indicated the alert was delivered this week, while a second source said American intelligence agencies had already been monitoring a growing volume of information about possible assassination plots targeting Trump in recent weeks.
However, the Israeli warning was described as new and related to a specific plan rather than general chatter. Not everyone in Washington has taken the Israeli report at face value. Several American officials suggested the warning may be part of a broader effort by Israel to shape Trump's thinking as he considers whether to escalate US military action against Iran.
US Agencies Unable to Verify Claims
Two sources familiar with the matter confirmed that American agencies had not independently verified the claims and were not tracking the specific plot before Israel brought it to their attention. The threat is not without precedent. Washington has for years cautioned that Iran may seek to kill Trump in retaliation for the January 2020 drone strike he authorised that killed senior Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani.
When asked about the Israeli warning, the White House directed journalists to recent remarks by President Trump. "They want to take out the US leader — me," Trump told reporters on Wednesday. "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."
Iranian Sentiment and Geopolitical Context
Late Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed by a US air strike in February 2026. At his funeral, protesters carried banners that said "we will kill Trump," reflecting what the US considers a popular sentiment in Iran. The development is expected to add another dynamic to Trump's stance on Iran, which recently attracted criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who disagreed with Washington's stance on not supporting Israel's military action in Lebanon.
While Trump has been vocal about his intentions to exert maximum force to get Tehran to comply with his ceasefire demands, CNN reports that diplomatic efforts are still ongoing. A senior American official confirmed that back-channel negotiations were still ongoing with Iran on a possible ceasefire.
Military Preparations Underway
Although Israel's report of a possible assassination attempt on Trump's life is not expected to lead to immediate US military action, the presidency is reportedly making military preparations quietly alongside exploring diplomatic options. The US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with other US military assets, is positioned in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman in preparation for possible military strikes.
