- US intelligence agencies were unable to independently verify several Israeli warnings over the past year about alleged Iranian plots to assassinate President Donald Trump, including before a NATO summit, according to a Reuters report citing current and former US officials.
- The warnings, shared through intelligence channels and in some cases directly with senior White House officials, included claims of potential sniper attacks, knife assaults at public events, and other threats to Trump's life.
- The most detailed warning came ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara in July, where Israeli officials reportedly briefed the White House on intelligence suggesting Iran could attempt to assassinate Trump, potentially using a shoulder-launched missile to target Air Force One.
- US intelligence agencies, including the CIA, assessed some of the threats with 'low confidence' and could not corroborate them; a Turkish official also said Turkey found no evidence.
- Despite the lack of verification, White House officials and the US Secret Service took precautionary measures, including moving Trump from Air Force One to a different aircraft during his Turkey trip.
- The report highlights broader disagreements between US and Israeli intelligence assessments of the Iranian threat.
- Israeli warnings began in the lead-up to the 12-day war in June 2025 and intensified before the US decision to launch military action against Iran in February this year.
- US intelligence agencies have long assessed that Iran seeks to retaliate for Trump's 2020 order to kill Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.
US intelligence agencies were unable to independently verify multiple Israeli warnings regarding alleged Iranian plots to assassinate former President Donald Trump, including a specific threat to Air Force One during a NATO summit in Turkey. The warnings, which included potential sniper attacks and knife assaults, were shared through intelligence channels and directly with senior White House officials.124589
The most detailed warning came ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara in July, where Israeli officials briefed the White House on intelligence suggesting Iran could attempt to assassinate Trump using a shoulder-launched missile. However, US intelligence agencies found no evidence to corroborate this claim, with a Turkish official also stating that Turkey's intelligence services found no supporting evidence.3
Despite the lack of verification, White House officials and the US Secret Service implemented precautionary measures, including an unusual deception operation that involved moving Trump from Air Force One to a different aircraft for his return flight. The CIA has long assessed that Iran seeks to retaliate for Trump's 2020 order to kill Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, but officials noted that the CIA has not been able to verify specific assassination threats relayed by Israeli intelligence since early last year.6
The situation underscores the influence of Israeli intelligence on US decision-making regarding Iran, highlighting broader disagreements between US and Israeli assessments of the Iranian threat. Israeli intelligence is typically shared with the CIA or the National Security Agency through formal channels, where it is analyzed alongside information from other sources.7
An Israeli embassy spokesperson rejected claims that Israel was using intelligence to influence US policy on Iran, stating that critics would accuse Israel of withholding information if it suited their agenda.
“The most detailed warning came before the July NATO summit in Ankara, where Israeli officials briefed the White House on a potential shoulder-launched missile attack on Air Force One. Despite the lack of corroboration, the Secret Service moved Trump to a different aircraft for his return flight, and a Turkish official said Turkey found no evidence supporting the claim.”
News18
