The campaign of Donald Trump has announced that the former president has received briefings from US intelligence regarding threats from Iran aimed at his assassination.
The campaign for the Republican presidential candidate announced that he was informed about “real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilize and sow chaos in the United States,” according to a statement released.
The report did not provide further details on the claims, leaving it uncertain whether the threats mentioned were recent developments or had been documented earlier.
The Iranian government has yet to respond to a request for comment. However, Tehran has a history of denying allegations from the United States regarding interference in American affairs.
Trump took to the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, to express concerns about “big threats on my life by Iran.”
“Iran has previously attempted actions that did not yield the desired results, yet they are expected to make another effort.”
He described the assault as a “death wish by the attacker” and expressed gratitude to Congress for allocating additional funds to the Secret Service.
“According to a statement from Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung, intelligence officials have noted an increase in the frequency and coordination of these attacks over the past few months.”
He stated that law enforcement officials from various agencies are collaborating to guarantee President Trump’s protection and to maintain the integrity of the election against any potential interference.
The BBC has reached out to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in the United States for a statement.
The incident follows an assassination attempt on Mr. Trump on July 13, during which he sustained injuries, and another individual lost their life in a shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania. The investigation is ongoing, and no motive has yet been established.
In the subsequent days, reports from US media indicated that officials had obtained intelligence regarding a purported Iranian scheme targeting the former president. According to a report by CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, officials in Iran dismissed the allegations as “malicious.”
“Should there be an assassination of President Trump, a scenario that remains a possibility, there is a hope expressed that America would respond by obliterating Iran, effectively erasing it from existence. Failing such action, American leaders may be viewed as lacking courage and resolve.” At that time, Mr. Trump made a statement on his Truth Social platform.
On September 15, a Secret Service agent observed a rifle protruding from a fence at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. An agent discharged their weapon while Mr. Trump was engaged in a round of golf.
US prosecutors have formally charged Ryan Wesley Routh, who was apprehended in proximity to a golf course, with the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate.
There is currently no indication that Iran played a role in either incident.
In a recent development, the Trump campaign reported that certain internal communications had been compromised, alleging that Iranian operatives orchestrated the breach.
In 2022, a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps faced charges from the United States for allegedly conspiring to assassinate John Bolton, who previously served as National Security Advisor under former President Trump.
The US Justice Department has reported that Shahram Poursafi allegedly sought to pay individuals within the United States a sum of $300,000 (£224,000) to execute a murder, purportedly as retribution for the US strike that resulted in the death of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani.
