- US intelligence warned Trump of 'real and specific' threats from Iran.
- “Iran has already taken steps that have not worked”: Trump.
- Iran has rejected accusations that it is trying to assassinate the former US president.
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump said on Wednesday there were “major threats” to his life posed by Iran after the Republican presidential candidate's campaign said US intelligence had warned him of “real and specific” threats from Tehran.
“Iran has gravely threatened my life. The entire U.S. military is watching and waiting,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“Iran has already taken steps that have not worked, but they will try again… I am surrounded by more men, guns and revolvers than I have ever seen before,” he said, following increased scrutiny by the US Secret Service since two attempts on Trump's life this year.
Trump's campaign said in a statement Tuesday that U.S. intelligence had warned the former president of “real and specific” threats from Iran to assassinate him.
It was not immediately clear whether the threats referred to by the campaign and Trump himself were new or previously reported threats.
“President Trump was briefed today by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence about real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilize and sow chaos in the United States,” campaign communications director Steven Cheung said in the statement.
“Intelligence officials have identified that these ongoing, coordinated attacks have increased in recent months, and law enforcement officials across all agencies are working to ensure that President Trump is protected and that the election is free from interference,” he added.
The campaign did not elaborate on the claims, which come as world leaders scramble to try to prevent hostilities between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel from escalating into a wider regional war.
Iran has rejected accusations that it is trying to kill Trump this summer, shortly after a gunman opened fire at a rally in Pennsylvania, killing one person and wounding the presidential candidate.
Days after the July 13 assassination attempt, US media reported that authorities had received information about an alleged Iranian plot against the Republican, prompting his protection to be strengthened. Iran rejected the “malicious” accusations.
“If 'President Trump is assassinated,' which is always a possibility, I hope the United States destroys Iran, wipes it off the face of the Earth. If that doesn't happen, American leaders will be considered 'spineless' cowards,” Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social, at the time.
