In Washington the U.S. military has killed an Iranian official who led a unit accused of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday, deepening the already volatile conflict between the United States and Iran.
Hegseth, briefing reporters at the Pentagon, said U.S. forces located and killed the Iranian target on Tuesday. “The leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed,” he said, adding that “Iran tried to kill President Trump and President Trump got the last laugh.”
The Pentagon chief stressed that eliminating the plot leader was not the initial focus of the broader military campaign against Iran but was added to the U.S. target list as operations expanded. He did not disclose the name of the Iranian official.
Background: Alleged Plot and Charges
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice charged an Iranian individual in connection with an alleged plot ordered by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to assassinate Trump then president‑elect as retaliation for the 2020 killing of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani. Tehran has repeatedly denied that it ordered any plot against Trump or other U.S. officials.
The alleged plot emerged in federal criminal filings, and U.S. authorities said they believed Iranian operatives sought to recruit others to carry out attacks on American soil.
Ties to Broader Conflict
The announcement comes amid an escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran following recent military operations targeting Iranian military capabilities. The tensions have already seen U.S. and allied strikes deep into Iranian territory and heightened military engagements in the Middle East.
Defense officials said the broader campaign is aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to strike U.S. forces and partners in the region. The killing of the Iranian official linked to the alleged assassination plot underscores how the conflict has drawn in historical grievances, intelligence threats and long‑standing tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Reaction and Denials
Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed the killing of the plot leader and continue to deny involvement in assassination efforts against U.S. leaders. Tehran has called U.S. and allied strikes violations of its sovereignty and has vowed to respond to military attacks on its territory.
Analysts say the incident may fuel further tensions and complicate diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate the conflict.
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