Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that there are serious threats to his life from Iran, based on intelligence reports warning of “real and specific” dangers.
Trump, who is a leading Republican candidate for the upcoming 2024 presidential election, revealed the threats on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Wednesday.
“Big threats on my life by Iran. The entire US military is watching and waiting,” Trump wrote. He expressed concern about Iran’s attempts to harm him, stating that previous efforts by Tehran had failed but could be repeated. “Moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again. … I am surrounded by more men, guns, and weapons than I have ever seen before,” he added.
Trump’s campaign team also confirmed the threat, stating that U.S. intelligence had informed the former president about the situation. According to the campaign’s communications director, Steven Cheung, the threats were part of an Iranian plan to assassinate Trump and destabilize the United States.
“President Trump was briefed earlier today by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence regarding real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilize and sow chaos in the United States,” Cheung said in a statement. He noted that intelligence officials had reported increased efforts by Iranian attackers in recent months, and law enforcement agencies were working together to ensure Trump’s safety.
While it was unclear whether these threats were new or related to earlier reports, the warning comes at a tense time in international relations, particularly with rising tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. Efforts are underway to prevent a larger regional conflict, and Trump’s allegations add another layer to the strained U.S.-Iran relationship.
In response to past threats, Iran has strongly denied any involvement in plots against Trump. After a reported assassination attempt on Trump at a Pennsylvania rally in July, where one person was killed, U.S. media reported that authorities had received intelligence of an Iranian plan targeting Trump. However, Iran rejected the accusations as “malicious.”
“If they do ‘assassinate President Trump,’ which is always a possibility, I hope that America obliterates Iran, wipes it off the face of the earth,” Trump said previously on Truth Social, adding that if such a response did not happen, American leaders would be seen as “gutless cowards.”
In addition to the alleged assassination threats, U.S. intelligence agencies have accused Iran of launching cyberattacks aimed at influencing the 2024 election. Reports suggest that Iranian hackers attempted to access and distribute sensitive, non-public information from Trump’s campaign to harm his candidacy. According to a joint statement from the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, these hackers tried to offer stolen data to President Joe Biden’s team during the last election.
“Iran is one of several foreign actors trying to interfere in the U.S. election,” the statement warned, noting that Russia and China have also been involved in activities meant to sow division within the United States.
Iran has consistently denied accusations of cyberattacks or election interference. Despite the ongoing threats, both from Iran and other foreign actors, Trump remains a strong contender in the 2024 race.
The U.S. election is set for November 5, and Trump’s main opponent, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, has also reported cyberattacks targeting her campaign, though she did not specify which country might be behind them.
With heightened concerns about foreign interference, the stakes in the 2024 election remain high as voters prepare to cast their ballots in a closely contested race.