Iran has vowed revenge against the U.S. for killing its Quds Force commander in 2020, but says it wants to do so in court.
Tehran has denied plotting to assassinate Donald Trump after reports emerged that U.S. authorities were told that Iran was planning to kill the Republican presidential nominee.
American news outlets CNN and Politico, citing unnamed sources, reported July 16 that U.S. authorities had been informed weeks ago of an Iranian plot to kill Trump.
Iran “strongly rejects” such a scenario, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said late on Tuesday.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to prosecute Trump due to his direct role in the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but strongly rejects any interference in the recent armed attack against Trump or allegations about Iran’s intention to do so,” spokesman Nasser Kanani said.
In this case, Tehran likely is telling the truth, one U.S. intelligence official told Soldier of Fortune.
“If they were involved, they would want to take credit,” the official said. “They would trumpet this as a victory, and add ominous messaging to the effect that they missed on purpose, but will hit the mark next time.”
The sources who were cited by CNN and Politico noted that Saturday’s assassination attempt against Trump did not appear to be linked to the Iranian threat.
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In his July 16 statement, Kanani charged that claims about an assassination plot against Trump were “politically motivated.” Tehran “is determined to prosecute Trump for his direct role in the crime of assassinating General Qasem Soleimani,” he said.
Tehran will do that via the “legal route,” according to Iran’s mission to the United Nations.
Soleimani, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ (IRGC) elite Quds Force, was assassinated in January 2020 in an air strike by U.S. forces. Iran repeatedly has vowed revenge.
Iranian authorities have long warned that senior U.S. figures they believe were involved in the killing of Soleimani will pay a price. Among those threatened are Trump’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, and ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
In August 2022, the Justice Department charged an Iranian operative it said was a member of the IRGC for allegedly plotting to kill Bolton.
Earlier this year, the U.S. government extended protection for Pompeo amid persistent threats from Iran.
– by Susan Katz Keating, with reporting from RFE/RL
