Iran attacks US failures as scepticism grows over Israeli role in Trump 'assassination plot'

What Happened

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of being driven by "fake intelligence" after The Washington Post confirmed earlier Middle East Eye reporting that Turkish officials viewed an Israeli warning about an Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump during last month's NATO summit in Ankara as a ruse designed to undermine negotiations with Tehran. Israel passed the intelligence to the CIA, but US analysts found it unconvincing and warned administration officials about its low credibility, according to the newspaper. The warning prompted security officials to fly Trump out of Turkey aboard an alternative military aircraft after he secretly switched planes on the tarmac in Ankara; Trump confirmed the operation on Tuesday and said he followed his security team's instructions. Separately, Hossein Taeb, commander of the Basij paramilitary unit, an affiliate of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the Strait of Hormuz was "under Iran's control and management" and that the country continues in "complete security," according to Iran's Fars news agency. His comments came a day after Trump claimed the US had "total control" of the waterway. Araghchi also attacked France and other Western governments for condemning Iran's treatment of protesters while supporting Israel's actions in Gaza. Democratic US Senator Richard Blumenthal demanded answers from War Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Navy over conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has spent more than 250 consecutive days at sea with about 5,000 sailors and marines aboard; The Navy Times and Stars and Stripes reported several sailors had attempted to jump overboard amid supply shortages, plumbing issues, and deteriorating mental health.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The dispute over the Israeli intelligence warning raises questions about the credibility of the security operation that moved Trump to an alternative aircraft in Ankara, and about whether faulty or manipulated intelligence helped push Washington toward military confrontation with Iran. Competing US and Iranian claims over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy chokepoint, risk escalating already high tension in the Gulf following the US war on Iran. The prolonged deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln, now in its ninth month at sea and the longest uninterrupted carrier deployment of the modern era, highlights the operational strain on US forces tied to that conflict and could pressure the administration to explain or adjust its military posture.

Watch For

Watch for a formal Navy or Defense Department response to Senator Blumenthal's demand for answers on USS Abraham Lincoln conditions, including any announced port visit, crew rotation, or investigation into reported suicide attempts and supply shortages. Also monitor whether the US or Israel offers further comment on the Ankara intelligence warning, and whether Araghchi's attacks on France and other Western governments draw official European responses that could affect diplomatic channels with Tehran. Further statements from Iranian or US officials on Strait of Hormuz control or naval movements there would indicate whether the rhetorical contest is hardening into operational posturing.