Israel Shares Fresh Intelligence Claiming Iran May Be Plotting To Assassinate Donald Trump: Report

Israel has shared fresh intelligence with the United States suggesting Iran may be plotting to assassinate US President Donald Trump, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The report comes amid already heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following recent military exchanges and renewed friction over Iran's regional activities.

According to the report, the intelligence was passed on to US officials earlier this week. While American intelligence agencies have been monitoring possible threats against Trump for some time, the Israeli assessment reportedly stood out because it referred to a specific alleged assassination plot.

CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that some US officials believe the warning could also be aimed at influencing Trump's thinking as he considers whether to expand US military action against Iran.

Iran has repeatedly vowed to avenge the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, who was killed in a US drone strike ordered by Trump during his first term in office.

Trump himself spoke about the threats while addressing reporters in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday.

"They want to take out the US leader-me," he said.

"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 reports also come at a time when differences have reportedly emerged between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over how to deal with Iran after last month's ceasefire.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Netanyahu has favoured keeping up military pressure on Iran to achieve additional strategic objectives. Trump, on the other hand, has reportedly pushed for winding down the conflict, warning that a prolonged war could have wider economic consequences.

The United States helped broker a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran last month.

On Thursday, Trump and Netanyahu spoke over the phone. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said the two leaders agreed to continue close coordination, adding that Trump also briefed Netanyahu on recent US activity in the Gulf.

Iran has never hidden its anger over Soleimani's killing, with senior leaders repeatedly promising retaliation.

At the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, mourners were seen chanting slogans calling for Trump's death while holding up a banner that read, "We Will Kill Trump."

Earlier reporting by The Wall Street Journal said Trump and Netanyahu remained in regular contact during the early stages of the Iran conflict, exchanging intelligence and discussing potential military targets during late-night phone calls.

Neither the US government nor Iran has publicly confirmed the latest intelligence assessment. The alleged assassination plot has been reported by The Wall Street Journal and CNN, citing officials familiar with the matter.