Former President Donald Trump has alleged that Iran poses “big threats” to his life, heightening concerns about foreign interference in the 2024 US presidential election. Trump’s remarks, posted on his Truth Social platform on September 24, came after his campaign team revealed that US intelligence had warned him of “real and specific” threats from Tehran aimed at assassinating the Republican frontrunner. This new claim underscores growing tensions between the US and Iran, amid wider concerns about the security of political figures and the integrity of the upcoming election.

In his Truth Social post, Trump stated, “Big threats on my life by Iran. The entire US Military is watching and waiting.” He further suggested that previous attempts had already been made by Iran but were unsuccessful: “Moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again. I am surrounded by more men, guns, and weapons than I have ever seen before.”

The message emphasized the heightened security around Trump, who has been under increased scrutiny following two alleged assassination attempts earlier this year. Trump’s post carried an ominous tone, as he warned that Iran’s efforts to destabilize his campaign were ongoing, stating that his personal security had never been tighter.

While Trump did not provide details on these threats, his statements raised questions about whether the threats mentioned were new or referred to earlier warnings that had been reported in the summer of 2023. These earlier threats allegedly prompted an increase in security measures surrounding the former president, especially following a July assassination attempt.

Trump’s campaign team confirmed the threats in a statement issued the day after his social media post. Steven Cheung, the campaign’s communications director, disclosed that US intelligence agencies had briefed Trump on “real and specific threats from Iran” that aimed to assassinate him and destabilize the United States. “President Trump was briefed earlier today by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence regarding real and specific threats from Iran,” Cheung explained, further stating that intelligence officials believed these threats had “heightened in the past few months.”

Cheung added that US law enforcement agencies across the country were coordinating efforts to ensure Trump’s safety and to prevent any election interference. However, the campaign stopped short of providing further specifics on the nature of the threats or the measures being taken to counter them.

The warnings come amid heightened global tensions, as US officials continue to watch escalating hostilities in the Middle East, particularly between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel. While the campaign’s statement did not directly link these international conflicts to the threats against Trump, the timing has raised concerns about potential Iranian efforts to destabilize the US election.

This is not the first time Trump has claimed his life was in danger due to Iranian efforts. In July, a gunman opened fire at one of his rallies in Pennsylvania, killing one person and injuring others. The incident raised alarms about Trump’s security and led to reports of Iranian involvement. US intelligence reportedly received information on an alleged plot by Tehran to target the former president, which resulted in an increased Secret Service presence around him.

Iran, however, has strongly denied any involvement in these alleged assassination plots. Shortly after the July assassination attempt, Tehran dismissed the accusations as “malicious.” Iranian officials have consistently rejected the idea that they are seeking to kill Trump, characterizing such claims as propaganda meant to justify aggressive US policies toward Iran.

In response to the July incident, Trump issued a fiery statement on Truth Social, threatening severe retaliation against Iran if any harm came to him. “If they do ‘assassinate President Trump,’ which is always a possibility, I hope that America obliterates Iran, wipes it off the face of the Earth,” Trump wrote at the time, warning that US leaders would be viewed as “gutless” if they failed to respond with overwhelming force.

In addition to physical threats, US intelligence agencies have also accused Iran of engaging in cyberattacks against Trump’s campaign. A joint statement issued earlier this month by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency claimed that Iranian hackers had attempted to influence the 2024 election by stealing sensitive material from Trump’s campaign.

According to US officials, these Iranian cyberattackers allegedly offered “stolen, non-public” information to members of Trump’s rival campaign, then headed by President Joe Biden. Although no specific instances of successful hacks were revealed, the agencies noted that foreign actors, particularly from Iran, Russia, and China, were stepping up their efforts to influence US elections by exacerbating divisions in American society.

US intelligence further accused Iran of trying to leak the stolen campaign material to American media outlets. While the media organizations were not named, the warnings suggest that Iran is actively seeking to destabilize US politics by interfering in the democratic process.

Notably, Trump’s Democratic rival in the upcoming election, Kamala Harris, has also reported similar attempts to disrupt her campaign. Harris’s team revealed in August that foreign hackers had targeted her campaign, although they declined to specify which country was behind the cyberattacks. Given Iran’s alleged involvement in targeting Trump, speculation has mounted that Tehran might also be attempting to disrupt Harris’s campaign.

As the US prepares for a fiercely contested election on November 5, these security concerns and foreign interference allegations are likely to play a major role in shaping the race. Trump and Harris are running neck and neck in recent polls, making the stakes higher than ever for both campaigns.

The threats against Trump’s life, whether new or lingering from earlier reports, underline the increasingly complex intersection of national security and electoral politics. With international tensions continuing to flare and allegations of foreign meddling mounting, the 2024 election is shaping up to be one of the most contentious-and potentially perilous-campaigns in modern American history.

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