Israel shared intel on Iranian hardliners’ desire to target Trump, sources say, as Netanyahu looks to influence course of war
Israel Shared Intel on Iranian Hardliners’ Trump Threat
Israel shared intel on Iranian hardliners who want to target President Donald Trump, according to multiple sources. The revelation came as the president made an unexpected decision about his travel arrangements while returning from a NATO summit on Wednesday. Instead of using the newly retrofitted aircraft donated by Qatar, Trump chose an older plane that has carried American leaders for years. Four United States officials said this change was partly driven by heightened security concerns as tensions with Iran escalate.
During the summit, Trump had already mentioned the possibility of an assassination attempt from Iran, particularly following recent American military strikes on the neighboring country. While sources at that time indicated no specific new threat to the president’s life, the timing of the aircraft change suggests caution was warranted.
Israeli Intelligence on Iranian Hardliners
Israeli intelligence officials shared information with the Trump administration concerning Iranian threats directed at the American president. This intelligence reflected a desire among certain elements of Tehran’s hardline leadership to target Trump, though it did not necessarily represent a detailed, specific plan to execute such an operation. Ahmad Vahidi, the newly appointed commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was identified as part of the faction advocating for this approach, according to an Israeli source speaking with CNN.
Vahidi has been placed on lists of “obstructionists” within the Iranian regime. These individuals are perceived by the Trump administration as actively working against diplomatic negotiations. A source familiar with American planning revealed that the United States has contemplated directly targeting leaders included on this list should full-scale hostilities resume.
Two American sources acquainted with the situation stated that recent intelligence evaluations indicate no evidence of a fresh, specific Iranian conspiracy to eliminate Trump. Instead, there is a consistent pattern of discussion among various Iranian actors who express interest in doing so.
Trump Downplays the Threat
In a Friday interview with the New York Post, President Trump minimized the importance of the Israeli intelligence, which had initially been reported by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday. He remarked that Iran has been threatening his life for an extended period.
“Israel came up with nothing,” he said, describing himself as Iran’s “number one” target “for a long time.”
The desire to see Trump removed is not exclusive to Iran’s political elite. During the multi-day funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by Israel during the opening military strikes of the war in late February, mourners carried signs demanding that Iran kill the American president.
Israel’s Growing Concerns
The sharing of intelligence by Israeli officials occurs at a moment when Israel has been increasingly marginalized as the Trump administration works to conclude its war with Iran. Two Israeli sources indicated that the Trump administration prefers to keep Israel out of the fighting due to worries about losing control over the conflict’s trajectory.
One of these sources explained that the prevailing Israeli assessment is that Trump does not desire a return to comprehensive warfare. The most he might be willing to do, according to this view, is to reinstate the naval blockade on Iranian ports.
“This is fake news,” a US official said when asked about Israeli officials interpretation of Trump’s view. “The United States has a strong relationship with Israel, which contributed to the resounding success of Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury. We remain in close coordination with our Israeli partners.”
On Friday, Trump posted to Truth Social that “the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!,” referencing Iranian leadership. He also noted that he had agreed to continue discussions aimed at restoring a pause in hostilities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently expressed skepticism regarding Iran’s intentions during ongoing negotiations. He has never believed that Tehran was negotiating in good faith and has instead favored a return to military action to weaken the Iranian regime.
United States intelligence officials are generally aware that Israel feels excluded from the decision-making process. Consequently, Israel is intensifying its efforts to influence the Trump administration’s thinking on Iran through multiple channels. The goal is to steer American policymakers away from accepting what Israel considers an unfavorable agreement.
