US President Donald Trump threatened Iran earlier this week, after reports surfaced that the Islamic republic was plotting to assassinate American diplomats in retaliation for the January killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
"According to press reports, Iran may be planning an assassination, or other attacks, against the United States in retaliation for the killing of terrorist leader Soleimani. Any attack by Iran, in any form, against the United States will be met with an attack on Iran that will be 1,000 times greater in magnitude!" Trump warned.
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The report in Politico said that Iran was planning to assassinate US Ambassador to South Africa Lana Marks.
According to press reports, Iran may be planning an assassination, or other attack, against the United States in retaliation for the killing of terrorist leader Soleimani, which was carried out for his planning a future attack, murdering U.S. Troops, and the death & suffering...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2020
The article, citing US intelligence reports seen by US government officials, said that Marks was likely chosen due to her close relationship with the president.
Iran initially retaliated for Soleimani's killing by firing missiles at a US base in Iraq, to which the US did not respond. The killing of a US ambassador would likely be seen as an act of war, pushing the already tense situation in the Persian Gulf beyond the brink.
US officials have said that Tehran was likely to seek to further avenge Soleimani's death.
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