Donald Trump's decision to switch planes following the major NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, was made amid concerns that Iran had hatched a plot to kill the US President. Senior Iranian officials viewed Trump's visit to the summit last week as a major opportunity to take out President Trump, according to reports.
Switch to Older Air Force One
Trump's team were warned about the apparent plot, leading the US President to switch from his new Air Force One—gifted to him by Qatar in controversial circumstances—and back to the older model. It had been reported that the new Air Force One lacked key safety features that existed on the older model, raising questions about its defensive capabilities.
The apparent threat to Trump's life was first reported by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12. Reporters were allegedly told to keep window shades closed in the press cabin without explanation during the flight.
Trump's Previous Warnings
Trump had previously hinted at assassination attempts by Iran during a press conference on Wednesday. He told the NATO summit: "They want to take out the US leader—me. I'm on every list. I'm on every single one of their lists, and so far I guess I've been a little bit lucky, but that maybe doesn't last very long, because that's the way it goes."
Escalating Hostilities
The threats to Trump's life come as Iran ratcheted up attacks, with a container ship being struck off Oman's coast. Iran's attacks once again raise fears that oil will flow freely through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's major crude oil trade routes. There are now fears the price of oil could rise once again as the blunder-filled conflict resumes.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement: "A full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences." But Iran's Revolutionary Guard has hinted there will be no immediate end to the hostilities and that it would continue to dominate control of the strait. The Revolutionary Guard said in a statement: "The Strait of Hormuz is our territory, and we will not allow a rogue and child-killing army from the other side of the world to continue its illegal interference in it."
