US issues stark warning to Iran: Any plot against Trump will be 'act of war'

The United States on Monday (Oct 14) warned Iran to stop its plotting against former President Donald Trump, stating that any attempt on his life would be viewed as an act of war. 

Reuters, citing an anonymous US official, reported that President Joe Biden has been regularly briefed on these threats and has directed his team to take action against the alleged Iranian plots.

At US President Biden's directions, top US officials contacted Iran's leadership, stressing that "severe consequences" would follow any attack on Trump or other Americans.

The Iranians were warned that America would view an attempt on the Republican former president's life as an act of war.

As Trump campaigns for a return to the White House against political rival Vice President Kamala Harris, his campaign on Sept 24 announced that the 78-year-old leader was briefed by US intelligence on the alleged Iranian threats against him.

In January 2020, when he was the US president, Donald Trump ordered a US strike on Iran's then-top military commander, Qasem Soleimani. This was done after intelligence reports suggested that Soleimani was planning imminent attacks on American diplomats and armed forces in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East.

According to the report, Iran, for its part, has denied any interference in US affairs, instead accusing Washington of meddling in its internal matters for decades. They reference historical events, including the 1953 coup and the US drone strike, and the 2020 killing of its military commander in a drone strike.

The White House has said that it has been tracking Iranian threats against Trump for years and that it regards this matter as a top national security priority.

White House Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett condemning Iran's threats said, "We consider this a national and homeland security matter of the highest priority, and we strongly condemn Iran for these brazen threats."

"Should Iran attack any of our citizens, including those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences."

He added that "appropriate agencies are continuously and promptly providing the former president’s security detail with evolving threat information."

"Additionally, President Biden has reiterated his directive that the United States Secret Service should receive every resource, capability, and protective measure required to address those evolving threats to the former president," said Savett.