KOR
▲ President Donald Trump speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One.
Israel has obtained intelligence regarding an Iranian plot to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump and shared the information with the United States, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on July 9 (local time).
President Trump recently mentioned the Iranian assassination plot himself during public appearances, and the report suggests that the source of this intelligence was Israel.
However, the WSJ did not disclose specific sources or the methods by which the intelligence was obtained.
The Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., declined to comment, and the Iranian Mission to the United Nations also did not respond to the WSJ's request for comment.
In response to an inquiry from the WSJ, the White House stated on July 8 that it would refer to President Trump's own remarks.
Previously, while meeting with reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 8, President Trump said, "They (Iran) are trying to eliminate the leader of the United States, which is me," adding, "I saw it this morning, my name was on all of their (assassination) lists."
On his way back to the U.S. afterward, President Trump boarded an older Air Force One aircraft, then switched to a newer model at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom before heading to the White House.
This led to speculation that the president may have changed planes mid-journey due to security concerns, including the alleged assassination threat.
The intelligence regarding Iran's assassination plot is expected to have a significant impact on future U.S.-Iran relations.
The WSJ noted that with U.S.-Iran negotiations already in a precarious state, this assassination intelligence could serve as a catalyst to further deepen tensions between the two nations.
For years, Iran has vowed to retaliate for the death of Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who was killed during President Trump's first term.
In particular, calls condemning President Trump have grown louder in Iran following the funeral of the former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who died on February 28 due to an attack by the U.S. and Israel.
Meanwhile, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call on July 9 and agreed to continue cooperation between the two countries across the Middle East region.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated that President Trump shared the latest updates regarding U.S. movements in the Persian Gulf with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
