Trump says US ready to ‘destroy’ Iran after Israeli intelligence warns of 'assassination plot'

What Happened

US President Donald Trump threatened to 'destroy' Iran with over 1,000 missiles, announcing on Truth Social that 'orders have already been given' and the US military is ready for a potential one-year campaign. The statement came after the Wall Street Journal and CNN reported, citing unnamed sources, that Israeli intelligence had shared with the US information about a 'specific' and 'active' alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, prompting enhanced security measures including a change of aircraft after a NATO summit in Turkey. The threat follows a sharp escalation: Iran said US airstrikes on 7–8 April killed 17 and wounded 115 in six cities; the US imposed new sanctions targeting financiers of Mojtaba Khamenei; and Iran accused Washington of violating paragraph 9 of a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding (MoU) that barred new sanctions and additional military deployments. After attacks on Qatari and Saudi tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, the US launched two nights of strikes, and Iran retaliated with missiles and drones against US-linked facilities. Trump declared the ceasefire 'OVER!' but said talks continue; Iran's lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, rejected surrender, stating the country is 'ready for full-scale defence'. Iranian officials attributed the tanker attacks to 'errant' hardliners seeking to derail diplomacy.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The exchange marks a dangerous personalisation of the US-Iran standoff, with Trump directly tying his own security to the threat of annihilating Iran. The alleged assassination plot, if corroborated, would represent a direct Iranian state threat against a sitting US president, erasing any remaining diplomatic space. The rapid cycle of strikes, sanctions, and accusations of MoU violations risks unravelling the fragile ceasefire and triggering a broader regional war involving Israeli intelligence, Gulf shipping, and Iranian proxies. The involvement of Pakistan as mediator and the internal Iranian attribution of tanker attacks to 'hardliners' suggest both sides may seek an off-ramp, but Trump's rhetoric raises the stakes to an exceptional level.

Watch For

Monitor whether the alleged assassination plot is substantiated through US or Israeli intelligence releases, and how Iran officially responds beyond negotiators' statements. Track compliance with the MoU—especially new US sanctions or deployments and Iran's nuclear status—as violations could collapse talks. Watch for further military action around the Strait of Hormuz and any escalation involving Hezbollah or Iraqi militias. The IAEA's next report will be critical for verifying Iran's nuclear programme status amid the crisis. Additionally, observe Pakistan's diplomatic intervention and whether a renewed ceasefire can be established.