Is Iran Really Plotting Another Assassination Attempt Against President Trump?

A fresh intelligence report has reignited concerns over President Donald Trump’s security after Israel reportedly shared information with the United States suggesting Iranian officials may be discussing another attempt to target the president. But despite the alarming headlines, significant questions remain about what the intelligence actually shows and whether it represents a credible, operational threat.

According to reporting from CNN and The Wall Street Journal, Israeli intelligence recently provided the United States with information regarding an alleged Iranian assassination plot targeting President Trump. However, when asked directly about those reports, Trump appeared to downplay the idea that this was anything new.

“I’m on every single one of their lists,” Trump told reporters, adding that Iran has wanted him dead for years and that “so far I’ve been a little bit lucky.”

That distinction is important. Rather than describing a newly uncovered plot, the president suggested the threat has existed continuously since his administration authorized the 2020 strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

Intelligence Still Under Review

While headlines have described the intelligence as evidence of a new assassination plot, multiple reports indicate U.S. intelligence agencies have not independently verified the claims.

According to Axios, two senior U.S. officials said the Israeli intelligence did not identify a specific operational plan. Instead, it reportedly described discussions among Iranian figures about targeting Trump.

That difference matters.

There is a significant distinction between longstanding threats, conversations about retaliation, and an active, coordinated assassination operation.

As of now, U.S. agencies continue reviewing the intelligence.

The Soleimani Strike Changed Everything

The backdrop for these threats dates back to January 2020, when President Trump ordered the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.

Since then, Iranian leaders have repeatedly vowed revenge, and U.S. officials have publicly warned that Iran could attempt retaliation against current or former American officials involved in the decision.

That history has kept concerns about Iranian retaliation alive across multiple administrations.

Previous Federal Cases

Federal prosecutors have previously announced several cases they say involved Iran backed assassination efforts.

Last year, prosecutors charged Farhad Shakeri, alleging he was directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, to develop a plan to surveil and assassinate Donald Trump.

Earlier this year, a federal jury convicted Asif Merchant, whom the Justice Department identified as an IRGC operative allegedly sent to the United States to recruit hitmen to target American political figures.

Authorities say both alleged plots were disrupted before any attack could occur.

However, despite those prosecutions, critics note there has been limited publicly available evidence directly linking Iran’s senior leadership to successfully executed assassination operations inside the United States. Iran has consistently denied involvement in assassination plots targeting President Trump.

Trump Has Already Survived Two Assassination Attempts

What is not disputed is that President Trump has already survived two serious assassination attempts.

In July 2024, a gunman opened fire during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, striking Trump in the ear before being killed by Secret Service snipers.

Just months later, authorities arrested another suspect after allegedly discovering him lying in wait with a rifle near Trump’s Florida golf course.

Those incidents represent two of the most serious assassination attempts against a modern American president.

But investigators have drawn an important distinction.

To date, there is no credible public evidence that either the Butler shooting or the Florida golf course incident was directed by Iran or any foreign government. Federal investigators have said the alleged attackers appeared motivated by entirely different factors, and neither case has been publicly connected to Tehran.

Rising Regional Tensions

The renewed attention comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue escalating.

The recent ceasefire between Iran and Israel has collapsed, military exchanges have resumed across the region, and the Strait of Hormuz has once again become a major flashpoint. Against that backdrop, any intelligence suggesting threats against the American president is almost certain to receive immediate scrutiny inside the White House and throughout the U.S. intelligence community.

The Bigger Question

The historical record shows that Iran has been accused for years of seeking retaliation against President Trump following the Soleimani strike. Trump himself has repeatedly acknowledged that he believes he has remained on Iran’s target list ever since.

Federal prosecutors have also brought multiple cases they say were connected to the IRGC.

At the same time, the specific intelligence making headlines this week has not been independently verified by U.S. intelligence agencies, and officials familiar with the reporting say it does not describe a concrete operational plan.

The central question, then, is not whether threats against President Trump have existed. They clearly have.

The question is whether this latest intelligence reflects an imminent assassination plot, routine threat reporting gathered during a period of heightened tensions, or something else entirely.

Some analysts have also suggested another possibility. That the timing and public disclosure of the intelligence could increase pressure on the Trump administration to remain engaged in a confrontation with Iran, rather than continue pursuing diplomatic efforts that, until recently, appeared to be gaining momentum.

At this stage, there is no public evidence confirming that interpretation. Like the alleged threat itself, it remains a matter of debate rather than established fact.