Israeli intelligence has reportedly uncovered a new Iranian plot to assassinate former US President Donald Trump, sharing the information with American officials in recent days. The development, first reported by multiple news outlets, comes as Trump himself said earlier this week that Iran «want to take out the U.S. leader», suggesting a growing threat landscape surrounding the Republican presidential candidate.
The alleged plot, which has not been officially confirmed by US or Israeli authorities, is said to involve plans by Iranian operatives to target Trump, who is currently running for president in the 2024 election. Israeli intelligence agencies reportedly passed the information to their US counterparts, prompting a review of security measures around the former president. The news adds to a series of reported Iranian threats against current and former US officials, particularly those involved in the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, which was ordered by Trump.
According to the reports, the intelligence suggests that Iran has been actively weighing a new operation against Trump, even as the country mourns the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who passed away earlier this year. The timing of the alleged plot raises concerns about Iran's intentions amid its ongoing political transition and its continued hostility toward the United States. US intelligence agencies have previously warned that Iran seeks revenge for Soleimani's death, and Trump has been identified as a high-value target by Tehran.
The Trump campaign has not issued a detailed public statement on the reported plot, but the former president has frequently highlighted threats from Iran during his rallies and interviews. Earlier this week, Trump told supporters that Iran «want to take out the U.S. leader», a remark that now appears to align with the intelligence shared by Israel. The US Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting former presidents, has not commented on whether security has been increased around Trump in response to the new information.
This is not the first time that Israeli intelligence has alerted US officials to Iranian assassination plots. In 2022, the Biden administration revealed that Iran had plotted to kill former National Security Advisor John Bolton, and a separate plot to assassinate former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also uncovered. Those plots were linked to Iran's Quds Force, the overseas arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.
The alleged plot against Trump comes at a time of heightened tensions between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program, its support for proxy militias in the Middle East, and its involvement in the Israel-Hamas war. Israel has been a key ally in sharing intelligence on Iranian activities, and the two countries have deepened their security cooperation in recent years. The reported plot also underscores the ongoing threat that Iran poses to US officials and former officials, a concern that has been repeatedly raised by US intelligence agencies.
Iran has consistently denied involvement in assassination plots against US officials, calling such allegations baseless and part of a campaign to demonize the Islamic Republic. However, US and Israeli intelligence assessments have repeatedly concluded that Iran maintains an active program to target its adversaries abroad, including through proxies and direct operations. The US Department of Justice has charged several individuals in connection with Iranian plots to kill American citizens, including a 2022 case involving an Iranian intelligence officer accused of plotting to assassinate Bolton.
The revelation of the new plot is likely to further strain relations between the US and Iran, which have been at a standstill over nuclear negotiations. It also adds a new dimension to the 2024 presidential campaign, as Trump faces multiple legal challenges while seeking to return to the White House. The former president has made his tough stance on Iran a central part of his campaign platform, vowing to restore maximum pressure on Tehran if elected.
US officials have not publicly confirmed the details of the intelligence shared by Israel, but the reports have been widely circulated in American and international media. The White House and the State Department have declined to comment on the specific plot, citing operational security concerns. However, a US official told reporters that the government takes all threats against former presidents seriously and works closely with allies to counter Iranian aggression.
The alleged plot also highlights the close intelligence-sharing relationship between Israel and the United States, which has been a cornerstone of their strategic alliance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long warned about Iran's ambitions to attack American targets, and the latest intelligence appears to reinforce those warnings. The two countries have collaborated on numerous operations to disrupt Iranian plots, including cyberattacks and covert actions against Iranian nuclear facilities.
As the story develops, security experts are urging caution, noting that intelligence reports can sometimes be misinterpreted or exaggerated. However, the consistency of past Iranian plots against US officials lends credibility to the latest warning. The US intelligence community is expected to conduct its own assessment of the Israeli information before determining whether to elevate the threat level for Trump and other potential targets.
