Israel’s warning of Iran out to kill Trump, attempt to destabilize US-Iran peace deal? Here’s what we know | Today’s news

The US and Iran have resumed fighting days after Tehran attacked commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. As fighting escalates, Israel shared a new intelligence report with the US on Thursday (local time), warning that Iran had recently hatched a plan to assassinate US President Donald Trump.

Citing one of the sources, CNN said the warning came earlier this week, while US officials said the message could be an attempt by Tel Aviv to influence Trump’s decision-making as he considers whether to step up strikes against Iran.

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Is Israel influencing the US with the latest news?

The report added that the latest Israeli intelligence is seen, at least in part, as part of a broader effort by the Tel Aviv government to influence the US president’s decision-making on Tehran. The source also said some within the U.S. intelligence community remain wary of Israel’s intelligence assessment.

In early June, The Washington Post reported that US intelligence agencies had warned the Trump administration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would take steps to undermine the US president’s efforts to reach a lasting peace deal with Tehran.

Netanyahu has previously expressed deep concern over Trump’s pursuit of diplomacy with Iran, a move that has cost him friendly relations with the US president. Ties between the two leaders also strained after Trump shouted at Netanyahu over Israel’s military action in Lebanon, which complicated peace talks between the US and Iran.

Read also | Iran-US tensions simmer: Strikes, sanctions and peace deal in doubt

Is Iran planning to kill Trump?

Details of the assassination plot that Tel Aviv warned of were not immediately clear, with US officials saying that Washington had not vetted the intelligence service itself or monitored it before warning Israel.

US intelligence agencies have received a steady stream of reports over the past few weeks suggesting plans by Tehran to assassinate Trump; however, the latest warning from Tel Aviv pointed to a specific plan.

The US government has long warned that Tehran may try to assassinate Trump in retaliation for the 2020 drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s top general.

Read also | US-Iran war: Israel shared information about Iran plotting to assassinate Trump | Update

In addition, two sources familiar with the latest U.S. intelligence said several actors who have discussed attacks but have yet to take action are being monitored. US intelligence agencies are also concerned that Tehran may target several current and former officials.

Trump’s remarks on Iran’s plan to kill him

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday (local time), Trump said: “They want to remove the leader of the United States – me,” adding: “I’m on any list. I saw this morning that I’m on every one of their lists. And so far I think I’ve been a little lucky, but maybe it won’t be for very long. These are evil, sick people. And we’ve got to cut out that early cancer. That’s how I feel.”

Later, the US president said he had learned of a new list that included him as a prime target for Iranian assassinations. However, it remains unclear whether he was referring to the latest Israeli intelligence report.

Tensions between the US and Iran are escalating

Earlier this week, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked several ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, an arterial waterway that has been a stumbling block in negotiations between the US and Iran. Before the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the conflict began in late February. Responding to the attacks, Trump announced on Wednesday that the ceasefire had ended, with the US military launching airstrikes on Tehran that killed at least 17 people. In response, the Islamic Republic attacked Washington’s allies in the region, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

While one U.S. official said technical talks with Tehran would continue, several others noted that preparations were underway Thursday night (local time) for possible strikes if necessary.

Key things

• The US and Iran are engaged in escalating military actions that threaten peace efforts.
• Israel’s intelligence reports could be used politically to influence US President Trump’s decision against Iran.
• Cautious optimism remains as US officials continue technical talks with Tehran amid rising tensions.