New assassination plot against Trump? Israel's secret intelligence raises alarm amid escalating Middle East tension

People familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Israel passed on intelligence suggesting a new Iranian plan targeting Trump.

Speaking to reporters in Ankara earlier this week, Trump said he believed his life was under threat.

"They want to take out the U.S. leader—me," he was quoted as saying by Anadolu Agency.

"I'm on every list. I saw this morning, I'm on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I've been a little bit lucky, but that maybe doesn't last very long," the President added.

The reported Israeli intelligence could further inflame tensions in the Middle East, especially after the two countries exchanged fresh strikes this week, putting the fragile ceasefire under severe strain.

Iran has repeatedly threatened Trump since the January 2020 US strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qassem Soleimani during Trump's first term in office.

US received new warning from Israel

According to CNN, sources said the Israeli warning was conveyed to US officials this week.

One source told the network that US intelligence agencies had detected a steady stream of intelligence in recent weeks about possible assassination plans targeting Trump. However, the Israeli warning reportedly pointed to a specific plot.

Some US officials suggested to CNN that the Israeli intelligence could also be aimed at influencing Trump's decision-making as he considers whether to intensify American military action against Iran.

The exact details of the alleged plot remain unclear. Two sources familiar with the matter told CNN that the United States had not independently verified the Israeli intelligence and was not tracking the specific threat before receiving the warning.

Trump-Netanyahu call

Despite recent strains over the Iran conflict, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Thursday, reaffirming continued coordination between the two countries.

According to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Trump also updated Netanyahu on recent American military moves in the Gulf region.

Khamenei buried amid renewed conflict
Meanwhile, the body of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei was laid to rest on Thursday at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, concluding several days of funeral and mourning ceremonies held across Iran and Iraq.

During the week-long funeral processions, mourners were seen chanting slogans calling for Trump's death, while some carried banners reading, "We Will Kill Trump."

Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli strike in Iran on February 28, an event that triggered the latest phase of the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Burial amid renewed regional conflict

Khamenei's funeral took place against the backdrop of renewed military escalation.

Even as preparations for his burial were underway, Iran and the United States exchanged fresh strikes, further straining the already fragile ceasefire.

Iran claimed it had resumed attacks targeting US military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. The latest escalation, linked to tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, has renewed fears of a wider regional conflict.

Casualties and oil prices

According to Iranian health authorities, at least 14 people have been killed over the past two days of hostilities, while dozens more have been injured in strikes across five provinces.

The reported attacks in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday also triggered a temporary spike in global crude oil prices. Prices later eased on Thursday to around $77 per barrel, although they remained above pre-conflict levels.

The renewed fighting comes despite a ceasefire agreement signed by Iran and the United States on June 17. According to reports, three merchant vessels were struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, further heightening concerns over maritime security in one of the world's most strategically important waterways.