Full Breakdown
Israel Shares Intelligence on Iranian Plot to Assassinate President Trump
7/10/2026, 3:12:26 PM
Core Event: Israeli Alert of an Iranian Assassination Plan
Israel’s intelligence service passed a warning to the United States that Iran has devised a new scheme to kill President Donald Trump. The alert, first reported by the *Wall Street Journal* on July 9, 2026, arrived amid a fragile 60-day cease-fire between Washington and Tehran that is now unraveling.
Background & Context: Years of Tehran-Washington Hostility
The threat revives a pattern that began after the January 2020 U.S. drone strike that eliminated IRGC General Qasem Soleimani. Iran has repeatedly vowed retaliation against Trump for that operation. Recent exchanges of strikes in the Strait of Hormuz and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have intensified the atmosphere, prompting both sides to trade threats while diplomatic talks aim for a nuclear agreement by mid-August.
Key Figures & Groups
- Donald Trump – President of the United States, the alleged target.
- Benjamin Netanyahu – Prime Minister of Israel, coordinating intelligence sharing and phone discussions with Trump.
- Iranian leadership – Including the late Supreme Leader Khamenei, whose funeral crowds publicly called for Trump’s death.
- U.S. intelligence community – Monitoring several actors who have discussed attacks but have not acted.
- Israeli intelligence – Source of the new warning, viewed by some U.S. officials as a possible political lever.
Timeline of Recent Developments
- July 9, 2026 – *Wall Street Journal* reports Israel’s warning; Israeli embassy in Washington declines comment.
- July 9, 2026 – Crowds in Mashhad, Iran chant “I swear by the blood of the Supreme Leader, Trump, we will kill you!” and display “Kill Trump” banners.
- July 9, 2026 – Trump and Netanyahu speak by phone, updating each other on Gulf actions.
- July 10, 2026 – Khamenei’s body is interred at the Imam Reza shrine; funeral processions conclude.
- July 10, 2026 – USS *Abraham Lincoln* loads fighter jets and conducts drills in anticipation of possible strikes.
Official Statements & Responses
The White House referred reporters to Trump’s own remarks about being on “every list” of Iranian targets. A White House official told *Walla* that no meeting between Trump and Netanyahu is planned. Netanyahu’s office issued a statement that the two leaders “agreed to continue coordination” and that the United States remains engaged in behind-the-scenes diplomacy with Iran.
Criticism & Opposition
U.S. intelligence sources expressed skepticism toward Israeli reporting, suggesting the warning could be part of a broader Israeli effort to sway Trump’s policy choices on Iran. Some officials warned that the United States has not independently vetted the alleged plot.
On-the-Ground Reports
Iranian mourners in Mashhad chanted slogans demanding revenge on Trump, and a banner reading “Kill Trump” was photographed near the Imam Reza Shrine.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While Israeli officials claim a concrete assassination plan exists, U.S. intelligence has only identified “several actors who have discussed attacks” and has not confirmed any operational details. The lack of verification leaves the seriousness of the threat uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They want to take out the US leader — me,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn’t last very long. These are evil, sick people. And we have to root out that cancer. That cancer. You know what you do? You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “And, so far, I guess I’ve been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn’t last very long. These are evil, sick people. And we have to root out that cancer. That cancer. You know what you do? You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “I swear by the blood of the Supreme Leader, Trump, we will kill you!” — chanters in Mashhad, Iran
Why It Matters
If validated, the plot could justify renewed U.S. military action, jeopardize the tentative cease-fire, and derail negotiations toward a nuclear deal. Conversely, doubts about the intelligence risk inflaming domestic political debates and further straining U.S.–Israeli coordination.
What’s Next
Diplomatic channels remain open, with both Washington and Tehran working toward a nuclear agreement slated for mid-August. No immediate meetings between Trump and Netanyahu are scheduled.
