Iranian president denies plot to assassinate Trump during US election campaign

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Iran “never” plotted to assassinate Donald Trump during last year’s US election campaign and never will in the future.

President Pezeshkian made these remarks during NBC News Lester Holt’s exclusive interview in Tehran, Caliber.Az reports. 

When asked about the alleged plot against Trump described by US authorities, Pezeshkian responded: “This is another one of those schemes that Israel and other countries are designing to promote Iranophobia. ... Iran has never attempted to nor does it plan to assassinate anyone. At least as far as I know.” 

Holt then asked Pezeshkian: “You’re saying there was never an Iranian plot to kill Donald Trump?” “None whatsoever,” Pezeshkian replied.  

When asked if Iran is willing to guarantee that there will be no attempt on Trump's life, Pezeshkian replied, “We have never attempted this to begin with, and we never will.” 

This interview marks Pezeshkian's first with foreign media since the US presidential election. It was conducted with a government interpreter present, providing real-time translation.

In November, the US Department of Justice charged an Iranian man in connection with an alleged murder-for-hire plot to kill Trump while he was the Republican presidential candidate. 

Two others were charged with allegedly planning to kill an Iranian American journalist and activist who has been critical of the Iranian government’s treatment of women. US authorities stated that the plot was part of Iran's efforts to avenge the death of top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad, ordered by Trump during his first term. 

In mid-October of last year, Iran sent a written message via Swiss diplomats assuring that it would not attempt to kill Trump, according to a US official. Both US and European governments have claimed that Iran has long sought to silence dissident Iranians abroad. 

Last year, the UK summoned Iran’s senior diplomat in London after Tehran allegedly targeted Iranian journalists based in Britain for intimidation. One journalist was stabbed in the leg in an attack blamed on Iran, though Tehran denies these accusations.

By Naila Huseynova