Key facts
- Israel shared 'kill-plot' intel alleging Iran planned to assassinate Trump
- Intel used to convince US to launch fresh strikes on Iran
- US-Iran ceasefire collapsed within three weeks of being agreed
- Reported by NDTV, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal citing sources
Israel shared intelligence with the United States claiming Iran had plotted a fresh assassination attempt against President Donald Trump, and leveraged that information to push Washington into launching another round of strikes on Iran. The disclosure, reported independently by NDTV, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal citing multiple sources, lays bare the covert diplomatic pressure that shaped one of the most consequential military decisions in recent months.
According to the sources, Israeli officials presented what they described as a 'kill-plot' — specific intelligence about an Iranian plan to target Trump — directly to American counterparts. The intelligence was instrumental in persuading the Trump administration to act militarily, even as diplomatic channels were nominally open. The episode underscores how tightly the US-Israel intelligence partnership continues to drive Middle East policy.
The broader context makes the revelations more alarming: a ceasefire between the United States and Iran had been in place but collapsed within three weeks, suggesting the fragility of any diplomatic settlement in the region. The resumption of hostilities following such a short-lived truce signals that a durable resolution remains distant, with both sides apparently unwilling or unable to hold to negotiated terms.
For India, the stakes are considerable. The US-Iran confrontation keeps oil supply fears alive and crude prices volatile — a dynamic with direct consequences for India's import bill, fuel prices, and broader inflation. New Delhi, which has historically maintained ties with Tehran while deepening its partnership with Washington, faces renewed pressure to navigate an increasingly polarised geopolitical landscape in the Gulf.