Iran has vehemently rejected U.S. media reports claiming it has been planning to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for the foreign ministry declared that Iran dismisses the “malicious” claims of plotting an attack on the Republican presidential candidate.
Nevertheless, Nasser Kanaani emphasised that Iran seeks to hold Trump accountable for his role in the assassination of a senior military official in 2020.
According to CNN, which cited unnamed U.S. officials, authorities recently learned of a threat against Trump’s life from Iran.
This development has led U.S. secret services to increase security for the former president.
Despite this, an attack on Trump occurred at a rally on Saturday. The U.S. report clarifies that the Iranian threat was not linked to the shooting in Pennsylvania, which was allegedly executed by a solitary 20-year-old gunman.
Kanaani remarked that Iran “categorically denies any participation in the recent armed attack on Trump or any claims regarding Iran’s intentions for such actions, deeming these allegations as politically motivated and malicious.”
Iran is resolute in its intention to “prosecute Trump” for his role in the 2020 assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), he asserted.
In response to the assassination of Soleimani, U.S. officials have maintained a high level of vigilance due to concerns about potential Iranian retaliation.
Tehran has publicly vowed to exact “harsh revenge”, intensifying fears of possible attacks against U.S. interests or allies in the region.
Concerns have been raised that potential targets may include former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former national security advisers John Bolton and Robert O’Brien, all of whom retained security details after their government service, according to CNN.
The preliminary report indicated that security measures for Trump have been heightened in recent weeks following intelligence suggesting a potential Iranian plot against him. This report did not disclose any sources for the information.
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson subsequently issued a statement emphasising that the intelligence concerning an Iranian threat to Trump is regarded as “a national and homeland security issue of the highest priority”.
Additionally, she noted that the inquiry into the attack in Pennsylvania “has not revealed any links between the shooter and any accomplice or co-conspirator, either foreign or domestic”.
According to Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, agencies are “constantly receiving new information about potential threats and are adjusting resources accordingly”.
He added in a statement, “We cannot discuss any specific threat streams, but the Secret Service takes all threats seriously and responds appropriately.”
The alleged threat from Iran comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responsible for anti-terrorism and border security, remains silent on the matter.
This situation unfolds amid heightened scrutiny of the U.S. Secret Service regarding the recent Butler County shooting.
Concerns have been expressed about how a gunman was able to fire at Trump from an exposed rooftop situated around 150 meters (500 feet) away.
An independent review of the agency’s handling of the incident has been ordered by U.S. President Joe Biden.