WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Askume) – Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was briefed by U.S. intelligence officials on Tuesday about an alleged Iranian threat to assassinate him. The Trump campaign provided the message.
“The Office of the Director of National Intelligence today briefed President Trump on a real and specific assassination threat from Iran aimed at causing instability and chaos in the United States,” the campaign said in a statement.
The campaign said intelligence officials have found the Iranian threat has “increased over the past few months” and that U.S. government officials are working to protect Trump and ensure the election is not impacted.
Trump later said on his “Truth Society” website that his life was in “tremendous danger” from Iran, adding that Iran’s move had not succeeded “but they will try again.”
Iran has previously denied US claims of interference in American affairs. Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not respond to a request for comment late Tuesday.
An ODNI spokesperson acknowledged the briefing on Tuesday but declined to provide any specifics.
Earlier this month, a Pakistani man with alleged links to Iran was convicted for allegedly plotting to assassinate an American politician.Pleaded not guilty in 2020 in retaliation for the US assassination of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani .
According to a person familiar with the matter, the defendant had mentioned Trump as a potential target but had no plans to assassinate the former president.
Federal authorities are conducting separate investigations into the alleged assassination of Trump at a Florida golf course in mid-September and the shooting of the Republican presidential candidate at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. There is no indication that Iran was involved in either of them.
US government agencies said last week that Iranian hackers had leaked emails to the Democratic president that included material stolen from the Republican former presidential campaign .At the time, Joe Biden ‘s re-election campaign was said to be part of Tehran’s broader efforts to influence the US election.
Biden resigned as candidate in late July and was replaced by Democratic Vice President Kamala HarrisHe will face a tough competition from Trump in the US elections to be held on November 5 .
In August, the United States accused Iran of launching cyberattacks against the campaigns of two US presidential candidates. Iran has denied the allegations.
Tehran says Washington has interfered in its affairs for decades, from a coup against its prime minister in 1953 to the killing of its military commander in a US drone strike in 2020.
