Sniper, knife, missile threats: Israel warned US of alleged Iran plot to assassinate Trump
Israel alerted the United States of possible Iranian assassinations plots against President Donald Trump, including sniper, knife, and missile attacks, according to Reuters, citing current and former US officials. The threats were relayed to US intelligence agencies and senior White House officials, with the most comprehensive alert occurring prior to Trump's visit to Turkey for NATO summit in July 2025.
Despite the absence of verification, the White House and Secret Service implemented precautionary measures, such as relocating Trump from Air Force One to another aircraft during his trip. The warnings surged ahead of a US decision to engage in war with Iran in February 2025, according to the sources. The most explicit warning occurred before the NATO summit in Ankara in July 2025, when Israeli officials informed the White House that Iran might attempt to kill Trump while he was aboard Air Force One, potentially utilizing a shoulder-launched missile.
Even though verification was lacking, the White House and Secret Service heightened their security protocols. During Trump's Turkey visit, the Secret Service carried out an unusual deception operation by transferring him from Air Force One to another aircraft for his return journey. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) harbored low confidence in certain Israeli intelligence, but was unable to substantiate specific threats against Trump's life that had been transmitted by Israeli intelligence since early 2025.
The episode also highlighted divergent intelligence evaluations between the US and Israel concerning Iran. While US intelligence agencies deemed Iran unwaveringly not engaged in nuclear weapon development, Israel persisted in its conviction that Tehran posed an imminent threat. This divergence in assessments influenced the US's decision to carry out strikes against Iran in February 2025.
The Israeli embassy refuted accusations of using intelligence to sway US policy toward Iran, while the Secret Service spokesperson affirmed the agency's continued dedication to protecting Trump amidst recent assassination attempts and heightened threats against the president.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
