Iran has informed the US in recent weeks that it has no plans to harm president-elect Donald Trump, according to media reports on Friday.
In response to a warning from President Joe Biden’s administration about any threats to Mr. Trump, Iran sent written assurances last month denying such intentions, as reported by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, citing officials.
The officials said the Biden administration emphasized that any threats against Mr. Trump are a top national security concern. They also stated any attempts on his life would be viewed as an act of war, according to the Journal.
This update follows charges against a foreign national tied to an alleged Iran-backed plot targeting Mr. Trump. Last summer, the Justice Department also charged a Pakistani individual linked to Iran in a murder-for-hire case, allegedly aimed at Mr. Trump and other US figures.
The Journal revealed that Iran sent the letter on October 14, weeks before Mr. Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the election.
In July, Mr. Trump survived an assassination attempt, with US intelligence previously flagging an Iran-related plan. However, there is no concrete evidence linking the shooter to Iran.
During Mr. Trump’s presidency, US-Iran relations worsened, particularly after the US exited the 2015 nuclear deal, which traded sanctions relief for nuclear restrictions. The administration also imposed heavy sanctions under a “maximum pressure” strategy.
In 2020, the US targeted and killed IRGC-Quds Force leader Maj Gen Qassem Suleimani in Baghdad, prompting Iran to vow revenge.
Iran referenced Suleimani’s death in the letter to Washington, officials stated.
Iran’s UN mission in July called Mr. Trump a criminal for his role in Suleimani’s assassination but reiterated that Tehran is pursuing legal avenues. Iran has also dismissed allegations of targeting Mr. Trump, labeling such claims “unsubstantiated and malicious.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the allegations as nothing more than a “third-rate comedy.”
