Iran told the US last month that it would not attempt to kill Donald Trump, US officials told the Wall Street Journal, in what may be a bid to de-escalate tensions as the former President prepares to return to the White House.
The Iranian assurance, delivered on October 14, was in response to a top-secret US warning sent in September. US officials said the Biden administration made it clear to Tehran that any threats against Trump are a top national security concern, and any such action would be treated as an act of war.
In its message, Iran accused Trump of committing a crime by ordering the 2020 drone strike that killed General Qasem Soleimani, who was not only a powerful military commander but also incredibly popular at home. However, Iranian officials said the country does not intend to target Trump. Instead, Iran stated it seeks justice for Soleimani’s assassination through legal channels.
The unsigned note was reportedly from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to an Iranian official and analyst who spoke to the New York Times (NYT). It is unclear whether Trump or his team has been informed about the correspondence.
The development comes as reports surfaced of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk meeting privately with Iran’s UN ambassador in New York this week to discuss easing tensions between the two countries, according to NYT.
The reported communication from Iran follows years of threats issued by Tehran against Trump. In 2022, Khamenei promoted an animated video depicting a drone attack on the former president at a golf course. In recent years, US authorities have linked Iran to alleged assassination plots targeting Trump and his former officials. In July, prosecutors said a Pakistani national, allegedly working with Iranian handlers, was detained for conspiring to target Trump.
Other former Trump administration officials, including ex-National Security Adviser John Bolton and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, remain under Secret Service protection due to threats from Iran. Iran has also been accused of hacking Trump’s campaign, leaking sensitive information about Vice President-elect JD Vance.
Following Trump’s election win, some Iranian officials and analysts have called for a more conciliatory approach in dealing with Washington, despite the President-elect’s Iran hawk allies promising renewed pressure on the US foe.