A tense war of words escalated over the weekend as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged that Iran had made two assassination attempts on U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him Tehran’s “enemy number one.” In a candid interview with Fox News, Benjamin Netanyahu justified Israel’s aggressive stance toward Iran by pointing to what he said was direct Iranian hostility toward Donald Trump and the broader Western alliance, citing intelligence that linked Iran to these alleged plots through proxy networks.
Donald Trump seen as Iran’s top threat
Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks followed Israel’s overnight strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, which he said were necessary to counter Iran’s “dual existential threat” to Israel—its nuclear ambitions and expanding missile arsenal. Benjamin Netanyahu claimed, “They [Iran] want to kill him [Donald Trump]. He’s enemy number one.”
When asked directly whether Israel had concrete intelligence connecting Iran to the attempts on Donald Trump’s life, Benjamin Netanyahu responded, “Through proxies, yes. Through their intel, yes.” He elaborated that Iran’s view of Donald Trump as a uniquely dangerous figure stems from his decisive opposition to their nuclear program, including the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the killing of Qasem Soleimani in 2020.
‘Junior partner’ in the line of fire
Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t stop with Donald Trump. He said he too had been a target of Iranian plots and described himself as Donald Trump’s “junior partner” in standing up to Iran’s nuclear threats. “He [Donald Trump] took up this fake agreement and basically tore it up,” Benjamin Netanyahu said, referring to the 2015 nuclear accord. “He made it very clear—‘You cannot have a nuclear weapon,’ which means you cannot enrich uranium.”
The Israeli leader warned that Iran’s accelerated nuclear program and growing missile capability posed an imminent danger not just to Israel but to global stability. “They are rushing to produce atomic bombs and expanding their ballistic missile arsenal to a scale of 3,600 weapons a year,” he stated, justifying Israel’s preemptive military actions.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s revelations come amid heightened tensions in West Asia, as Israel’s offensive has drawn international concern over further regional escalation. The Israeli Prime Minister emphasized that no nation can afford to ignore Iran’s nuclear trajectory or its intentions.
