Politico has published a report on the Iranian regime’s efforts to assassinate Donald Trump and other senior U.S. officials following the death of Qassem Soleimani, the former head of the terrorist IRGC Quds Force.
The report states that since Soleimani’s death, Iran’s regime has consistently threatened retaliation, and U.S. officials have concluded that these threats are real and serious.
U.S. intelligence officials have also warned that these threats have increased in recent months.
For example, two failed assassination attempts on Trump were made in the summer of 2024, although direct links to Iran have not been proven.
“Tehran isn’t bluffing — and it isn’t giving up anytime soon.”
Politico notes that Iran’s threats to assassinate U.S. officials, particularly Trump and those involved in Soleimani’s killing, are broader and more dangerous than previously reported.
Matthew Olsen, U.S. Assistant Attorney General for National Security, has stated that Iran’s regime has clearly shown its intent to seek revenge on former U.S. officials.
The report references interviews with 24 U.S. officials who are directly aware of the attack on Soleimani and the subsequent threats.
Many of them have emphasized that Iran’s assassination threats are much more tangible than the threatening posts on social media.
They have also reported hacking attempts and digital surveillance against former officials and their families.
Additionally, there has been discussion of the Iranian regime’s efforts to track a U.S. official during an overseas trip.
The report mentions the U.S. government’s efforts to protect former officials from these threats.
However, some of these officials do not receive government support and are forced to secure their own protection.
One individual who spoke to Politico, Megan Reiss, former National Security Advisor to Mitt Romney, said that many of those targeted by Iranian threats have received no support.
Politico also highlights the significant budget allocated for protecting these officials, noting that around $150 million is spent annually to safeguard those targeted by Iran’s threats.
Some officials believe that the threats have reached a level where the killing of a U.S. official may occur, which would be considered an act of war.
The report discusses the impact of Qassem Soleimani’s death on U.S.-Iran relations, explaining that Soleimani was one of the close confidants of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Following his death, Iran’s regime responded with missile attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, which resulted in no casualties.
However, the regime’s proxy forces in the Middle East continued rocket and drone attacks on U.S. forces, while Tehran also began planning assassinations of U.S. officials.
Politico goes on to mention Iran’s efforts to assassinate former Trump administration officials, including John Bolton, the former National Security Advisor.
In 2021, a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sought to hire an assassin to kill Bolton in the U.S.
The report concludes by emphasizing that threats against Trump are also increasing.
In July 2024, the FBI arrested an Iranian agent who was attempting to arrange the assassination of a U.S. political figure in retaliation for Soleimani’s death.
Trump’s campaign has also called for increased security measures for him in light of these threats.
