A former senior Iranian commander has issued a stark threat, claiming that Iran would be capable of assassinating President Trump even inside the White House if it chose to do so.
“If the goal is to assassinate Trump, the Islamic Republic can easily do so in the White House. Whenever necessary, we are capable of doing that,” Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, a former high-ranking commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, told the Iranian news outlet Fararu.
Moghaddam also suggested that Tehran’s current talks with Washington should not be interpreted as a pursuit of peace, while leaving open the possibility of “revenge” against the United States over the war.
“We are not negotiating with the Americans for peace. We are negotiating to reduce tensions,” he said, arguing that Iran’s engagement with Washington is meant to reinforce the Islamic Republic’s demands.
“We are not negotiating for peace with Trump and his criminal aides. In the negotiations, we are only seeking to restore our rights and clarify the accusations made against us by the United States,” Moghaddam added.
He further warned that retaliation has not been ruled out, saying, “As for revenge and retaliation, they remain firmly on the table.”
The former military figure’s remarks come amid an escalation in US strikes on Iran over the weekend, with attacks reportedly moving farther inland beyond coastal targets.
Trump has pledged to strike Iran “very hard,” faulting Tehran for not agreeing to a peace deal and saying the United States would become the “guardian” of the contested Strait of Hormuz.
“Now we’re going to guard it, and we’re going to get paid for guarding it,” Trump said Monday.
For its part, Iran has accused the US of undermining talks with Oman aimed at ensuring safe passage through the strait.
Iran claimed the US is increasing the risk of broader conflict, condemning its “repeated provocations and destabilizing actions,” military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said.
“The leaders of the countries in the region are warned that any cooperation with the United States or logistical support for its military will be regarded as an act of war against Iran’s sovereignty and national security,” he added.
Oil prices rose over the weekend in response to growing concerns over Tehran’s declared closure of the strait, with traffic dropping through the critical chokepoint responsible for almost one-fifth of global oil traffic.
With Post wires
