US could not verify Israeli warnings of Iran plots against Trump, report says

US intelligence agencies were unable to independently verify several Israeli warnings over the past year about alleged Iranian plots to assassinate President Donald Trump, including before a secret Air Force One deception operation during his visit to Turkey, according to a Reuters report citing current and former US officials.The warnings, shared through intelligence channels and in some cases directly with senior White House officials, included claims of potential sniper attacks, knife assaults at public events and other threats to Trump's life. The sources told Reuters that the tips began in the lead-up to the 12-day war in June 2025 and intensified before the US decision to launch military action against Iran in February this year.According to the report, the CIA was unable to corroborate several of the specific threats provided by Israeli intelligence and, in some cases, assessed the information with "low confidence".The most detailed warning came ahead of the Nato summit in Ankara in July. Israeli officials reportedly briefed the White House on intelligence suggesting Iran could attempt to assassinate Trump, potentially using a shoulder-launched missile to target Air Force One during his visit to Turkey. However, US intelligence agencies were unable to independently verify the claim. A Turkish official told Reuters that Turkey's intelligence services also found no evidence supporting the alleged threat and shared that assessment with US authorities.Despite the lack of corroboration, White House officials and the US Secret Service took precautionary measures. Among them was an extraordinary deception operation during the Turkey trip that involved moving Trump from Air Force One to a different aircraft for his flight out of the country. US intelligence agencies have long assessed that Iran seeks to retaliate for Trump's 2020 order to kill Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani. However, officials told Reuters that the CIA has not been able to verify some of the specific assassination threats relayed by Israeli intelligence since early last year.The report said the Turkey episode underscores the influence Israeli intelligence has had on the Trump administration's decision-making on Iran at a time of heightened tensions with Tehran. It also highlights broader disagreements between US and Israeli intelligence assessments of the Iranian threat.Earlier this year, US intelligence agencies assessed that Iran was not actively building a nuclear weapon, even as Israel argued that Tehran posed an urgent threat. Despite those assessments, Trump went ahead with military strikes on Iran in February. Earlier reports suggested that intelligence shared by Israel alleging Iranian attempts to assassinate Trump was among the factors considered by the president before ordering the operation.The United States has long relied heavily on Israeli intelligence on Middle East issues, particularly those related to Iran. According to current and former officials cited by Reuters, Israeli intelligence is typically shared with the CIA or the National Security Agency through formal channels, where it is analysed alongside information from other sources.Officials said US intelligence agencies are often unable to independently verify Israeli intelligence but use additional information and intelligence streams to assess its credibility and accuracy.Senior Israeli officials and representatives directly briefed top Trump administration officials on alleged Iranian threats on multiple occasions over the past year, including during meetings in the White House Situation Room.The report said the direct engagement took place against the backdrop of strains within the US intelligence community. Former officials told Reuters that the CIA last year stopped coordinating and sharing intelligence with the National Intelligence Council (NIC), the intelligence community's principal analytical body overseen by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, following growing tensions between the agencies.As a result, officials said there are now fewer comprehensive intelligence community assessments being produced by the NIC, including on Iran, potentially limiting opportunities for broader inter-agency review of intelligence claims.The White House and CIA declined to comment on the report. A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy rejected suggestions that Israel was using intelligence sharing to influence US policy, while the Secret Service said it continuously evaluates information from multiple sources to guide protective operations.- EndsPublished By: Nitish SinghPublished On: Aug 14, 2026 05:55 IST