Key facts
- Iran's state media mocked U.S. President Donald Trump after reports of a secret aircraft switch during his visit to Turkey.
- The aircraft switch was reportedly prompted by a credible threat of a shoulder-fired missile targeting Air Force One.
- US officials were reportedly alarmed to discover that Iranians knew where Trump was staying in Ankara.
- Iran has not officially commented on the allegations or the airplane switch.
- Iran's embassy in South Africa shared a meme depicting Trump hidden in a catering box.
- US analysts reportedly doubted the credibility of an Israeli warning about an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump.
Iran's state media has mocked U.S. President Donald Trump following reports of a secret aircraft switch during his visit to Turkey, attributing the move to fear of Iran's power. The incident occurred after a threat emerged that Air Force One could be targeted by a shoulder-fired missile, prompting the Secret Service to move Trump onto a smaller jet. This operation was reportedly initiated after U.S. officials discovered that Iranians were aware of Trump's location in Ankara.
Iranian state television presenters described the episode as a source of humiliation for Trump, stemming from fear of Iran's military capabilities. The Iranian embassy in South Africa further amplified the mockery by sharing a meme of Trump inside a catering box. These developments come amid scepticism over an Israeli warning about an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump during his NATO summit visit, which some U.S. analysts and Turkish officials reportedly viewed as a potential ruse.
Tehran has officially denied previous accusations by the U.S. Justice Department in 2024 concerning an alleged plot by Iran's Revolutionary Guards to assassinate Trump. The current situation unfolds as Iran and the United States remain at odds over efforts to end the war in the Gulf, with no progress reported in talks to revive an interim deal.
Separately, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has raised concerns about the prolonged deployment and deteriorating conditions for sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been at sea for over 250 consecutive days.