US President Donald Trump is at the “top” of Iran’s assassination hit list, according to an ex-White House official. Mr Trump’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, made the chilling warning on Sky News’ show, The World, claiming that a number of US government officials were targets.
During his appearance, he said: “I think Iran’s terror network is really quite extensive in Europe and in the United States.” Mr Bolton said those being targeted were in relation to the 2020 assination of the top ranking Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani. The former White House chief claimed himself to be on the hit list too, yet emphasises the President being their number one target.
Soleimani was identified as being a terrorist by America. He commanded the Quds Force which is a division of the Iranian regime responsible for operations outside of the country.
“President Trump is at the top of their list of their targets,” he said. Mr Bolton ominously claimed that Iranian forces would target individuals using “Eastern European criminal gangs and others.”
In 2022, the United States issued an arrest warrant for Iranian national Shahram Poursafi, after he reportedly planned the assassination of Mr Bolton. “I’m not the only person in addition to Trump,” he said.
“Other former cabinet officials are targets of Iran. This really is unprecedented,” the former adviser warned.
“We’re not being targeted because we’re dissidents from Iran, but because of things that were done carrying out our official duty.”
He added that if Iran was successful in their alleged aim to assassinate President Trump, there is a “good argument” for it being classed as “an act of war”.
Since Mr Trump’s first term, when Mr Bolton advised him, the former security chief has become critical of the President.
Upon returning to office in January, Mr Trump withdrew Mr Bolton’s security team, which protected him from threats to his safety.
“On what one might have thought was a pretty busy inauguration day, President Trump had the time to cancel my secret service protection,” he added, claiming it sends a bad image to “adversaries” of the US.