Iran informed the U.S. Biden administration in October through an intermediary that it had no intention of targeting the former president. Donald Trump. According to the New York Times, Washington issued a stern warning in September that any such action would be considered an “act of war.”
U.S. officials claim Iran intends to eliminate Trump in retaliation for a 2020 drone strike that eliminated Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who commanded Iranian militias and proxy forces. According to sources in the New York Times, the Department of Justice issued two indictments allegedly related to Iran’s plans to target Trump.
However, while maintaining its position that the assassination of Soleimani was illegal, Iran has made it clear that it has no intention of assassinating Trump, which was confirmed by U.S. officials, an Iranian official and an analyst with ties to both sides. The letter indicates that Iran is inclined to seek justice for Soleimani’s death through international legal mechanisms.
After Trump’s victory in the Nov. 5 election, many former Iranian officials, commentators and media outlets publicly advocated for dialogue with the president-elect, even as his allies pledged to restore strict measures against Iran.
Iran’s message maintained their position that the killing of Soleimani was illegal. However, it also made clear that Iran had no intention of killing Trump, which was confirmed by U.S. officials, an Iranian official and an analyst with ties to both parties. Instead, Iran’s communication demonstrates its preference for seeking justice for Soleimani’s death through international legal channels.
While U.S. officials noted that the message was not an official letter from a specific individual, Iranian officials and analysts attributed it to the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to the exchange of information.
Iran’s plans to attack Trump have been a hot topic between the two countries. During the presidential campaign, U.S. authorities expressed concern about these plots. Recently, federal prosecutors in New York revealed discussions among Iranian plotters about assassinating him, claims that Iran’s foreign ministry dismissed as baseless.
