Washington DC: Fresh intelligence reportedly shared by Israel with the United States has reignited concerns over the security of US President Donald Trump, with multiple American media outlets claiming that Iran is suspected of planning a new assassination attempt against him.

According to reports by CNN and The Wall Street Journal, Israeli intelligence recently alerted Washington about what was described as a "specific" and "fresh" Iranian plot targeting Trump. The reports, which cited unnamed officials familiar with the matter, surfaced as tensions between the United States and Iran escalated following renewed military strikes and growing fears of another regional conflict.

The White House has not officially confirmed the reported intelligence. However, Trump himself appeared to acknowledge the ongoing threats while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after attending the NATO summit.

"They want to take out the US leader - me. I'm on whatever list. I saw this morning I'm on every single one of their lists," Trump said during the flight back to Washington.

Why is Iran allegedly targeting Donald Trump?

The reported threat is rooted in one of the most consequential decisions of Trump's first presidency. In January 2020, the US ordered the drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, near Baghdad International Airport.

Iran has repeatedly vowed to avenge Soleimani's killing and has, over the years, accused Trump and several former US officials of responsibility for the operation. American intelligence agencies have previously warned about Iranian efforts to target current and former US officials linked to the strike.

Air Force One switch fuels speculation

The intelligence reports also drew renewed attention to an unusual move made during Trump's return from the NATO summit in Turkey.

Trump departed on his older Air Force One aircraft while his newly acquired Qatari-gifted presidential jet reportedly flew ahead separately to the United Kingdom, where he later boarded it for the journey to Washington.

The unexpected aircraft change quickly sparked speculation over whether it was linked to heightened security concerns, particularly as the US had recently carried out fresh military action involving Iran.

According to The New York Times, the aircraft switch was requested by the US Secret Service as a precautionary security measure. The report suggested the decision was intended to minimise potential risks during the president's international travel.

When questioned about the unusual arrangement, Trump did not directly address whether the move was prompted by security concerns. Instead, he referred generally to previous threats allegedly linked to Iran.

With AFP inputs