US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, stating that the country would be "obliterated" if it attempted to assassinate him. This statement follows increased security measures before a July campaign rally in Pennsylvania, where Trump was shot in the ear. Despite this, US officials have not linked Iran to the attack.
Ongoing Iranian Threats Against Trump
Federal authorities have been monitoring threats from Iran against Trump and other US officials for years. The threats stem from Trump’s 2020 order to eliminate Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force. In November, the US Justice Department announced that it had thwarted an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump before the upcoming presidential election.
Alleged Iranian Plot and Key Suspect
According to US investigators, Iranian officials directed 51-year-old Farhad Shakeri to conduct surveillance and ultimately assassinate Trump. Shakeri, an Afghan national residing in Iran, allegedly worked as an asset for Iran’s government and had a network of criminal associates recruited for surveillance and murder-for-hire plots. He remains at large in Iran.
Iran Rejects US Allegations
Iranian officials have denied any involvement in the plot. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei dismissed the accusations, suggesting that Israel-linked groups fabricated the claims to strain US-Iran relations.
Revocation of Security for Former Officials
Recently, Trump revoked government security protection for several key figures from his first administration, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, top aide Brian Hook, and former National Security Adviser John Bolton. These officials had previously faced Iranian threats due to their firm stance against Tehran.
