Iran was aware of US President Donald Trump’s exact location in Turkey, including the floor of the building where he was staying during a NATO summit in Ankara, according to a New York Times report, which cited two US officials familiar with the threat. Trump recently revealed that he was secretly moved to another aircraft in Turkey last month on the instructions of the US secret service.
“They wanted me to go on a different flight, different plane," Trump told reporters after an event in Ohio, saying he had little say in the decision.
“I guess there was a threat out there. I didn't really ask too much about it,” he said. “I get a lot of threats.”
Iran knew Trump’s exact location in Turkey?
Deep Dive
What specific threat prompted Trump to switch planes in Turkey during the NATO summit?
Why did the CIA doubt the Israeli intel regarding the threat to Trump in Turkey?
How did Trump's movement from Air Force One to a smaller jet take place in Turkey?
Iranian officials had detailed information about where the US president was staying in Ankara, including the floor of the building, The New York Times reported quoting US officials. The report said that US intelligence received information through several channels.
It indicated a specific threat involving a surface-to-air missile targeting Air Force One, referring to whichever aircraft was carrying the president. Intelligence also reportedly showed that a person near the NATO summit had been seen carrying a shoulder-fired missile.
The information was considered serious enough that Trump and senior officials in his administration carried out an unusual decoy operation to get him out of Turkey.
{{/usCountry}}The information was considered serious enough that Trump and senior officials in his administration carried out an unusual decoy operation to get him out of Turkey.
{{/usCountry}}He first boarded the older Air Force One in view of cameras, before quietly leaving inside an airport catering container and departing the country aboard a military aircraft.
News agency Reuters also reported on Wednesday, citing a person briefed on the matter, that concerns over a possible shoulder-fired missile attack on Air Force One led the secret service to secretly transfer Trump to a smaller government aircraft.
‘The plane that I flew on was at greater risk’: Trump
Trump and a few aides used a catering truck to quietly move from the large blue-and-white presidential aircraft to a smaller, unmarked C-32A jet as they left Turkey on July 8, Reuters reported, citing the source.
Air Force One then reportedly left separately, carrying senior administration officials, White House staff and members of the travelling press corps.
Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the secret service, which is responsible for protecting the president, ordered the switch. He travelled from Ankara to a refuelling stop in Britain without any incident.
"I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk," Trump told reporters. "I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for."
With inputs from agencies