US Warns Islamic Republic: Any Assassination Attempt Against Donald Trump Will Be Considered an 'Act of War'

The United States has warned the Islamic Republic that any assassination attempt against Donald Trump, the former president and current candidate for the US presidential election, will be considered an 'act of war' and will be met with a response. Reuters reported on Monday, citing an American official, that the US has warned the Iranian government to stop all plots against Donald Trump, emphasizing that Washington views any assassination attempt on him as an act of war. The official, who requested anonymity, stated that President Joe Biden has been regularly informed of the threats and has instructed his team to counter the Islamic Republic's plots against Americans. According to the Reuters report, senior US officials, at Biden's directive, have sent messages to the highest levels of the Iranian government, warning the Islamic Republic to cease all plots against Trump and former US officials. The American official noted that the Islamic Republic has been told that Washington will consider any attempt on Trump's life as an 'act of war.' Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic has denied any interference in US affairs. Donald Trump, the former US president, is currently competing as the Republican candidate against Kamala Harris, the vice president and Democratic candidate, in the upcoming election on November 15. Trump's campaign team announced on October 3 that US intelligence officials had informed Trump of the Iranian government's threats. The White House emphasized that the United States has closely monitored the Iranian government's threats against Trump for years and warned of 'severe consequences' for any Iranian attack on an American citizen. John South, spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated: 'We consider this a national and domestic security issue of the highest priority and strongly condemn Iran for these brazen threats. If Iran attacks any of our citizens - including those currently serving the United States or those who have previously served - it will face severe consequences.' California police reported on Sunday the arrest of an armed man near a campaign rally for Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, marking the third assassination attempt against him. Previously, the US Attorney's Office charged three Iranians employed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with targeting members of Trump's campaign in a broad cyber plot. Donald Trump, the former president and Republican candidate in the upcoming election on November 5, was targeted in an assassination attempt in late July and was injured in the ear. In September, Secret Service agents arrested an individual near Trump's golf club in Florida, marking the second assassination attempt against him during the 2024 election campaign. Although the connection of the arrested individuals to the Iranian government has not been disclosed, Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that they will take revenge for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force. US intelligence officials informed Trump on October 3 about the latest information regarding the Islamic Republic's attempts to assassinate him and 'real and specific threats' in this regard. The next day, Trump stated at a rally in North Carolina, 'We are aware of two assassination attempts against me that may or may not be from (the government of) Iran, but probably are.' Reuters reported in mid-October that the Islamic Republic has been involved in at least 33 assassination or kidnapping attempts in Europe and the US since 2020. In this context, a Pakistani citizen has previously been accused of attempting to hire a 'contract killer' on behalf of the Iranian government in the United States and is set to stand trial.