Iran's Foreign Ministry Calls Allegations of Targeting Former US Officials 'Baseless'

Nasser Kanani, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, dismissed allegations regarding Iran targeting former US officials as baseless, claiming these statements are made with specific political objectives in the 'current volatile conditions in the region.' On Thursday, October 5, he reacted to comments made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding threats from the Islamic Republic against former American officials, labeling them as 'ridiculous and completely unfounded.' Antony Blinken, in an interview on Wednesday, October 4, with 'Today,' NBC's morning program, stated that the US is closely monitoring these threats, particularly in response to questions about threats from Iran to 'assassinate' Donald Trump. Blinken emphasized that these threats are not limited to Trump but also involve other senior US officials. On the same day, Donald Trump, the former US president and current candidate for the upcoming election, stated during a campaign speech in North Carolina, 'As you know, during my life, there have been two assassination attempts on me that we are aware of, which may or may not be the work of Iran, but probably are.' Trump added that if Iran intends to harm him, it should be 'shredded.' He stated, 'If I were president, I would inform the threatening country, which in this case is Iran, that if you harm this person, we will shred your biggest cities and your country.' Trump then claimed that he and his country are 'directly threatened by Iran' and that a clear message must be sent to Tehran that involvement in a plot to kill or harm a US president or presidential candidate will have the most severe consequences. Trump's remarks came a day after his campaign announced that US security agencies had informed this Republican candidate about 'real' actions by the Islamic Republic to assassinate him. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson characterized these remarks as 'ridiculous and completely unfounded accusations and part of the electoral atmosphere in America.' He stated that these comments 'are not even worth responding to.' In recent months, Donald Trump has been targeted in two assassination attempts. The latest occurred on September 16, when a shooting near Trump's golf club in West Palm Beach led to law enforcement firing at the shooter. Although the shooter managed to escape, police later arrested the suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Roth, 58, from Hawaii. About two months prior to the second assassination attempt, Trump was shot at during a campaign event in Pennsylvania, injuring his ear. Secret Service agents killed the assailant, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks. Following this assassination attempt, Iran denied media reports about attempts to kill the former US president. Additionally, numerous reports indicate Iranian-backed hackers have targeted the campaign offices of both presidential candidates in the US. Although Iran denies these accusations, Google confirmed these hacking attacks in late August, and recent American media reports indicate that the Islamic Republic continues to hack Donald Trump's campaign office. US citizens will go to the polls on November 5 to elect a president, and according to polls, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the Vice President, are still neck and neck in the upcoming election.