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Sources Say, Israel Warns U.S. of Iranian Plot to Assassinate Trump; Sources Say, White House Doesn't Want Israel Involved in U.S. Strikes; Trump Traveled on Older Air Force One Due to Security Concerns. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired July 10, 2026 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[10:00:00]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, a possible assassination plot and a pause in the fighting.

Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Pamela Brown is on assignment, and you're in The Situation Room.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice over): Breaking news, assassination plot.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Recently, as this past week, Israel shared new intelligence.

BLITZER: New warning of an Iranian plot to kill the president.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I'm number one on the kill list for Iran.

BLITZER: Why some intelligence experts are skeptical.

Diplomatic pause, the U.S. pausing attacks after tit-for-tat strikes. Can mediators salvage the ceasefire?

Defensive missions.

BROWN: We have some new exclusive video we can show you from our time here on the Lincoln today.

BLITZER: Fighter jets take off from the USS Abraham Lincoln as the U.S. military prepares for the possibility of more strikes.

Our Pamela Brown is the first American journalist reporting from that aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. Her exclusive reporting straight ahead.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER (on camera): And we begin with the breaking news. In an alleged plot to assassinate President Trump, sources now telling CNN that Israel learned of an Iranian plan to kill the president. Israel shared that intelligence with Washington this week.

Now, we've seen many Iranian calls for the president's death, even at this week's funeral processions for the former Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. And that includes a one hundred million dollar bounty on his head. It was posted by a hardline Iranian newspaper.

Remember, the president had an abrupt change of travel plans this week. On Tuesday, he arrived in Turkey at the NATO summit aboard the new Air Force One, the Qatar-gifted plane that you see on top. And just a day later, he departed Turkey to come back to the United States aboard the old Air Force One, which you see on the bottom.

Here's what the president said about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: I'd like you to address speculation that you're leaving Ankara not in the new Air Force One because of security concerns involving Iran. You've spoken today twice about them possibly assassinating you and possibly being successful. Did that concern have something to do with it?

TRUMP: Well, I speak about it a lot because, you know, the life of a president is very dangerous.

I'm number one on the kill list for Iran.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: And new this morning, two Israeli sources tell CNN the Trump administration does not want Israel taking part in US strikes, and one of those sources says Israel believes President Trump does not want to reignite a full-scale war and may, at most, prefer to reinstate the naval blockade of Iran.

We're covering all the dramatic angles of this very important story. Our correspondents, analysts, and experts are fanned out around the world to bring you all the latest developments.

Let's go to CNN's Pamela Brown aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln for more on the Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump.

BROWN: We're told that as recently as this past week, Israel shared new intelligence with the U.S. that it was devising, that Iran was devising a new plot to assassinate President Trump.

Now, I'm told from talking to a source that in recent weeks there has been an increase of intelligence coming in indicating that Iran was devising new ways to go after the president. We know ever since his first term it has looked at President Trump as a target, ever since the administration took out Commander Soleimani of Iran. But this is a new plot apparently coming from Israeli intelligence, that I should note has not been verified by the U.S., we're told. And one source we spoke to did express some skepticism that this particular intelligence about a specific plot coming from Israel, they do question that, given the fact that they believe that Israel may be trying to influence President Trump.

But nonetheless, this is something the intelligence community is looking at and trying to figure out more. We don't have details yet of that specific plot, but the change of Air Force One planes this past week certainly raised a lot of questions. I'm told by a U.S. official that they really want to get diplomacy going, that that is taking the lead, and that right now there is diplomacy happening behind the scenes to try to ease tensions.

[10:05:09]

Because as we've been talking about this week, we have seen those tensions escalate with strikes back and forth between the U.S. and Iran.

But it's very touch and go, I can tell you. In talking to folks here on this ship, there's a feeling that things can change at any second and strikes could resume any minute, and they're, they're trying to make preparations for that.

In terms of aircraft, there were operations going on throughout the day with these fighter jets and throughout the night. I believe we have some new exclusive video we can show you from our time here on the Lincoln today. These are operations from these fighter jets that are defensive in nature. I'm told they've been doing these types of operations throughout their time here.

But it, of course, took on new meaning today given this posture of heightened alert. The captain of the ship said that things are heating up. And I can tell you here on the ship it was a lot busier today with putting armaments on these fighter jets in preparation for a potential strike. Pilots were doing drills. They were getting ready in case they were called on to do a third night of strikes.

So far, that hasn't happened. Things are delicate. Diplomacy is underway. But as we've seen throughout this war, things can rapidly change.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Excellent reporting from CNN's Pamela Brown aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, and Pamela will be back. We'll have much more of Pamela's exclusive access on board the Lincoln throughout the show today. Stay with us for that.

And take a look at how President Trump has recently spoken about threats on his life from Iran. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: They want to take out the U.S. leader, me. I'm on every list. I saw things this morning. I'm on every single one of their lists.

I'm number one on the kill list for Iran. They're lovely people. I'm number one.

I may be gone too because I'm their number one target. It's out all over the place. I'm their number one because they're scum.

REPORTER: Were you aware of any credible threat by Iran against Air Force One?

TRUMP: Well, (INAUDIBLE). I'm number one on their list before you. But if I go, you go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's go live right now to CNN Senior White House Reporter Betsy Klein. Betsy, how is the administration responding to these dramatic developments?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, as you just saw, it's very clear that the inherent risks of the presidency are top of mind for President Trump, and officials take every threat to the president's life extremely seriously.

But we are learning that two sources familiar with the matter say that Israel has shared intelligence with the United States that Iran has devised a new plan to assassinate President Trump, and that information, that warning from Israel to the President Trump came this week.

Now, two sources familiar with recent U.S. intelligence suggest to CNN that the intelligence community is actually tracking several potential actors who have developed plans to attack and discussed those plans, but have not taken action.

And, of course, some skepticism, as Pamela mentioned, that Israeli report is viewed in part as an attempt to influence President Trump's decision-making on the future of this conflict. But, of course, it comes just days after President Trump announced that he was swapping out that brand-new Qatari-gifted Air Force One, instead traveling on the old plane as he returned from Turkey, which officials said was due in part to concerns about that escalation in conflict with Iran. Wolf?

BLITZER: Betsy, I understand you also have some new reporting about the U.S. and Iran continuing to engage in what are described as technical negotiations on nuclear issues, even amid these new strikes. What more can you share with us?

KLEIN: Right. Well, President Trump is weighing his path forward on this conflict. A lot of questions after he launched that new round of strikes on Iran this week.

But the ceasefire agreement and that 60-day negotiation period was the only clear off-ramp that the president had. The U.S. had made plans for strikes overnight last night into today, but for now, officials say that they are letting diplomacy play out.

Now, a U.S. official has told me that the U.S. and Iran are still engaged in technical talks on nuclear issues with an eye toward a diplomatic solution.

Now, this conflict is also, of course, a political issue for the president. Consumers had just been starting to get some relief at the gas pump, but price of an average gallon of gas up 9 cents this week. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right. Betsy Klein at the White House for us, Betsy, thank you very much.

Still ahead, new CNN reporting, sources now telling us the Trump administration doesn't want Israel's involvement in strikes on Iran. Our Jeremy Diamond is live in Tel Aviv. Jeremy?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, well, even as tensions escalate in the region and we are seeing more U.S. strikes, for now at least, Israel's involvement is staying below the surface, and that seems to be at the request of Washington. That's next after the break.

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BLITZER: Welcome back to our Situation Room special report. As tensions ramp up dramatically between the U.S. and Iran, President Trump wants one top U.S. ally to stay out of the conflict. Sources tell CNN the White House doesn't want Israel involved over concerns fighting could spiral out of control.

Let's go live right now to CNN's Jeremy Diamond. He's on the scene for us in Tel Aviv. Jeremy, what's the view inside Israel right now after the U.S. resumed strikes on Iran this week?

DIAMOND: Well, Wolf, over the course of the last several days, we have watched as the United States and Iran have traded strikes, with Iran striking areas very close to Israel, Jordan being the closest country, where Iran fired ten missiles that were all intercepted by the U.S. and Jordanian military.

[10:15:11]

But so far, Iran has not struck Israel. Israel has not struck Iran. And the reason for why Israel has not carried out any strikes against Iran seems to be that the United States has asked Israel to stay out of this current tit-for-tat.

One source familiar with the matter said that while the Israeli prime minister would like to join U.S. strikes against Iran, for the moment, the United States has said that it does not want Israel to join in on those strikes. That being said, the Israeli military remains on high alert for the possibility of any incoming Iranian missiles, and also for the possibility that offensive action against Iran from Israel could potentially be ordered by the Israeli prime minister.

There's no indication right now that that is going to happen. But the Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, saying that if Israel has to return to this conflict to outright military action against Iran, then Israel will do so with, quote, even greater force.

Now, as that is happening, the Israeli prime minister, certainly, we have seen that he has been, you know, uncertain about the prospects of this negotiation, quite distrustful of it, frankly, and waiting to see whether or not these tensions actually result in the war resuming or if this current lull in the fighting and these negotiations actually lead to a broader solution. Wolf?

BLITZER: Jeremy, I also want to ask you about what's being described as a partial Israeli withdrawal from Southern Lebanon. There's new reporting this morning on this. A U.S. official says the first part of that transition is set to launch very, very soon. What are you learning about this?

DIAMOND: Yes, Wolf. Since the agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government last week, we have been waiting to see when Israel would withdraw from these two areas in Southern Lebanon where they're supposed to withdraw and then hand over control to the Lebanese military with the goal being to prevent Hezbollah from retaking those areas and allow the Lebanese military to exert the Lebanese state's sovereignty over those areas.

But it hasn't happened yet. But now a U.S. military official is indicating that the first of those pilot zones is going to move forward in a matter of days, meaning that the Israeli military would hand over control of at least one part of this Southern Lebanese territory that it is currently occupying to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

And in coordination with that, there are also said to be additional talks between the Israeli and Lebanese governments next week in Rome. These will be technical negotiations, we're told, to try and advance this, these pilot zones as well as the broader negotiations between those two governments. Wolf?

BLITZER: Yes, dramatic developments unfolding between the Israelis and the Lebanese.

Jeremy Diamond in Israel for us, in Tel Aviv, thank you very much.

Still ahead, on the heels of this new assassination plot, is the new Air Force One equipped with all of the same security details as the old Air Force One? The concerns from officials as we look at both of these planes.

Our special report here in The Situation Room continues after a quick break.

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[10:20:00]

BLITZER: Welcome back to our Situation Room special report. Here are the latest developments unfolding right now. Israel alerting the U.S. that Iran is plotting to assassinate President Trump. We've seen many public calls in Iran for the president to be killed, including during this week's funeral events for the former leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

And that may explain a late change in the president's travel plans this week. On Tuesday, he arrived at the NATO Summit in Turkey aboard the new Air Force One. That's the Qatar-gifted plane that you see on top. And just a day later, he departed Turkey for the United States aboard the old Air Force One, which you see on the bottom.

During that summit, the president said more than once that he was Iran's number one target for assassination.

For more on these developments, let's bring in CNN National Security Analyst Alex Plitsas. Alex is also the director of The Atlantic Council's Counter Terrorism Project.

We're just learning, Alex, that only one single vessel crossed the Strait of Hormuz on the Oman side yesterday. What does that tell you about the current state of affairs between the U.S., Iran, and really the rest of the world that relies on this critical waterway?

ALEX PLITSAS, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: It tells us that we still have a critical disagreement between the United States and Iran, and it is in fact over control of the Strait of Hormuz. And I'm told by Qatari officials that are traveling to the region now, and other regional mediators, that that remains the heart of the problem here, and that's that the Iranians believe that they have the right to control the strait, and that any vessels that are outside of it are subject to action, whereas the United States has made it quite clear the expectation is freedom of movement.

BLITZER: Iran's slain supreme leader amidst all of this was buried in his hometown early this morning local time. And even amid the massive funeral processions, we never saw his son, the new ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei. What do you make of that? And what sort of impact might his absence have on Iran's domestic affairs?

PLITSAS: So, the assessment of multiple intelligence services both from our European allies and folks in the Gulf as well as U.S. officials I've spoken to is that Mojtaba Khamenei is in fact running day-to-day government making senior decisions.

[10:25:00]

But he was kept away from funeral processions here and proceedings, one, out of security, but also because he was severely disfigured is what we're hearing during some of the attacks that took place early on, particularly the opening strike in which he was present that killed his father and other members of his family, potentially having a prosthetic, having allegedly had multiple surgeries on one of his arms, and potentially pretty severe burns to his face. So, between the injuries and the security risk, it was a decision made for him not to attend.

BLITZER: At the same time, two Israeli sources are now telling CNN the Trump administration does not, repeat, not want Israel involved in the fighting with Iran over concerns of losing control of the conflict. Do you suspect that assessment is correct? And if so, why would that be the case?

PLITSAS: So, the Israeli government has made it quite clear that they would like to see this war fought to its conclusion, and they feel that the only way this will ever really come to an end is with regime change in Iran. However, that would take, you know, a significant number of ground forces and an effort that the U.S. is not willing to make at this point. And the president's made it clear that he would prefer to, you know, finish this through a negotiation.

So, there's a concern that if another round of fighting is sparked, if the Iranians were to strike Israel and Israel strikes back and they strike back harder, this could escalate back into a full-blown conflict, and the U.S. is trying to contain that and close this out through negotiation. So, very delicate balancing act at the moment.

BLITZER: Let's turn to this latest reporting that we're getting from our Pamela Brown and Kevin Liptak. Sources telling them that Israel recently shared intelligence with the U.S. that Iran had recently devised a new plan to try to assassinate President Trump.

How do you suspect the U.S. is evaluating this information against the fact that Israel seems to have very different objectives in the short- term from the U.S. in the war with Iran? Could this be an effort by Israel to try to influence U.S. decision-making?

PLITSAS: I mean, it's certainly possible that it's an effort, but, you know, to present false evidence that was easily discernible, as not being credible would be, you know, would be catastrophic to a relationship given the significance of the allegations that are being made. So, I suspect this is true at this point, and no reason not to believe so until we hear otherwise.

And, unfortunately, this does follow a pattern of behavior from the Iranians over the last decade or so where they have attempted to actively target former U.S. officials, including President Trump after he ordered the assassination of the late Iranian IRGC commander, Qasem Soleimani, in Iraq.

And so since then, they've engaged a number of plots for hire -- murder for hire, essentially, where they've hired thugs in the U.S., for lack of a better term to try to assassinate people. Fortunately, they've been disrupted, but they haven't stopped plotting since.

BLITZER: Yes. I remember a few years ago when there was a plot by the Iranians to try to assassinate the then-Saudi ambassador to the United States, who was having dinner at a very popular restaurant in Georgetown Cafe Milano, and a lot of us have eaten there, and it was a very, very scary moment indeed. Fortunately, the ambassador was not killed.

What's your understanding of how the U.S. military changes its plans when it comes to international conflicts based on what are described as real-time security information provided by the U.S. Secret Service?

PLITSAS: So, in that particular case, this information came in, although the plot details are not clear, while the president was abroad. He was obviously in Turkey at the NATO Summit. As we saw early in the conflict, I think you and I were actually on air during that day when they fired, or the Iranians fired a couple of missiles towards Turkey, where we have Incirlik Air Force Base, and Turkey chose not to invoke Article 5, so there was no NATO response.

But that was clear at that point that he was at least within range of Iranian missiles. And just given the severity of the threat and the fact that, you know, they made him use one of the older Air Force Ones, it kind of gives the implication that the current new aircraft that was gifted by the Qataris is missing some sort of countermeasure or protective mechanism that the older aircraft have while they're still retrofitting.

And so a decision was made to switch the aircraft out, and then the U.S. military would provide whatever additional security assets were necessary to protect the president based on that threat and whatever the Secret Service determined to be credible at that point.

BLITZER: Important information. Alex Plitsas, thank you very, very much for your expertise.

I want to continue our conversation now with CNN Military Analyst, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton. He's over at the magic wall for us.

Colonel, I want to ask you about this new CNN reporting on the president's decision to leave Turkey this week on the old Air Force One, as opposed to arriving in Turkey on the new Air Force One that the Qataris gave the U.S.

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Yes, Wolf. Well, one of the key things here, of course, you see the different planes, as Alex and you were talking about just now. We have the new one on top and the old one at the bottom.

The characteristics of the new Air Force One are basically these, it's the Qatari-donated luxury Boeing 747-800, and it doesn't possess the same type of security features, according to a lot of our sources, that ensure the safety of the airplane in international settings, especially over hostile areas, think Iraq, think Syria, places like that where it could fly and it could potentially be in danger. The Air Force says that it's equipped with the most advanced technology that's necessary to protect their president and meet the requirements of a presidential mission.

[10:30:04]

Now, the former Air Force One had certain capabilities that are absolutely.