Photo: Alamy
Iran has launched an effort to sabotage President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, U.S. officials revealed on Monday.
The update came from officials with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), FBI and Department of Homeland Security during a security briefing.
“Since our last update, the [intelligence community] has observed Tehran working to influence the presidential election, probably because Iranian leaders want to avoid an outcome they perceive would increase tensions with the United States,” the update stated.
“Iran’s preference is essentially a reflection of its desire to not worsen tensions with the United States, and Iran is opposing the candidate that Iran’s leaders perceive would increase those tensions,” it added.
The news comes after a recent report that Tehran was planning to assassinate Trump shortly after the assassination attempt against the 45th president during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Representatives from the Iranian government promptly denied the claim.
From the perspective of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Trump is a criminal who must be prosecuted and punished in a court of law for ordering the assassination of General Soleimani,” the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran told Fox News Digital at the time. “Iran has chosen the legal path to bring him to justice.”
Iran’s frustrations with Trump are not new. He recently spoke out against Iran’s government after it attacked Israel.
“ISRAEL IS UNDER ATTACK! This should never have been allowed to happen – This would NEVER have happened if I were President!” said the 45th president less than two hours before his rally in Pennsylvania.
During his time in the White House, Trump also authorized a drone strike against Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani. The Jan. 2, 2020, elimination of the military leader led to strong threats from Iran’s regime, including death threats against Trump and then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
In addition to Iran, the update observed that Russia and China are also involved in activities to influence the upcoming presidential election.
“Moscow continues to use a broad stable of influence actors and tactics and is working to better hide its hand, enhance its reach, and create content that resonates more with U.S. audiences,” the update noted concerning Russia.