Donald Trump switched planes on his way home from the NATO summit in Turkey after the United States was warned that Iran had been plotting to kill the US President during his visit to Ankara, according to reports.
Iranian Plot Revealed
Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported that senior Iranian officials viewed last week's major NATO summit as a prime opportunity to assassinate Trump. The New York Times added that Trump changed aircraft because the Secret Service was concerned that the new plane, donated by Qatar, lacked the security features of the older aircraft.
Without explanation, reporters were instructed to close window shades during take-off. Trump himself declared at the NATO summit: 'They [Iran] want to take out the US leader – me. I’m on every list.' He continued, '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.'
Strait of Hormuz Blockade
Before the plot emerged, Trump insisted the United States is 'reinstating' a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and will charge other ships for safe passage. Iran has insisted it controls the critical waterway, as another exchange of fire threatened a return to all-out war. The US had until now said the strait should remain open to all without tolls, as it was before the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
Exchanges of fire in recent days, sparked by Iranian attacks on ships, had already cast further doubt on the interim peace deal reached last month. 'We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE,' Trump said on social media. 'All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.' The president said the US would be 'reimbursed' by 20% of the value of cargo to help cover 'any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security.'
Iran asserts it has the right to manage traffic through the strait and potentially charge fees in accordance with the interim peace deal. It has vowed to fight back against any US interference.
