Israel Shared Trump Threat Intel to Sway Iran Policy as US Saw No New Assassination Plot
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 10
Israel Shared Trump Threat Intel to Sway Iran Policy as US Saw No New Assassination Plot
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 10
Summary
Israeli officials passed intelligence on Iranian threats against Donald Trump to the administration as part of a broader effort to shape US policy on Iran, according to US and Israeli sources.
US assessments found no new, specific assassination plot—only persistent chatter from Iranian actors—leading some in the intelligence community to doubt Israel’s framing because it appeared aimed at influencing Trump’s decisions.
Ahmad Vahidi, the new IRGC commander, was identified by an Israeli source as backing the idea of targeting Trump, and US officials have viewed him as among Iranian hardliners undermining negotiations.
Trump publicly dismissed the intelligence as nothing new, but security concerns tied to the Iran conflict still contributed to his switching to an older aircraft after the NATO summit.
The episode comes as Israel fears being cut out of US decision-making on ending the war with Iran, while Netanyahu remains skeptical of diplomacy and favors renewed military pressure.