Potential Iranian plot against Trump prompts heightened security
American intelligence services received information about a potential Iranian plot against Donald Trump in recent weeks, CNN reported on Tuesday. Sources informed the network that Thomas Crooks, who fired at the former president in Pennsylvania on Saturday, was not part of the conspiracy.
According to CNN informants, American services obtained information about a potential Iranian assassination attempt on the Republican candidate's life from a human source. This intelligence led to increased protection for Trump in recent weeks.
The network notes that this fact raises new questions about how the services allowed the attempt during the rally in Pennsylvania. However, there is no information linking the 20-year-old to the Iranian assassination plans.
Adrienne Watson, the White House National Security Council spokeswoman, commented on the matter. "The investigation of Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Trump is active and ongoing. At this time, law enforcement has reported that their investigation has not identified ties between the shooter and any accomplice or co-conspirator, foreign or domestic," she stated.
Trump's campaign was aware of the threat
Trump's campaign reportedly received warnings not to organize more difficult-to-protect open-air rallies and spontaneous meetings with people, although these warnings were general.
According to CNN, services were nonetheless concerned for months about Iran's possible intentions to kill Trump in revenge for the assassination of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps special forces commander General Qassem Soleimani a few years ago.
Previously, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies had thwarted similar attempts to assassinate former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton. Trump was also reportedly on the list of Iranian targets. New information about the threat, which recently emerged, coincided with a wave of propaganda campaigns in the media and on social media organized by Iran.
