Iran continues to look for ways to retaliate for the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a US drone strike in January. If the attack is carried out, it will put further pressure on the already very tense relations between the US and Iran. US President Donald Trump would be under severe pressure to strike back, Politico writes.
U.S. officials have been aware of a general threat against the ambassador, Lana Marks, since the spring, officials said. But information about the threat to the ambassador has become more specific in recent weeks. The Iranian embassy in Pretoria is involved in the plot, the US government official said. Marks has been notified of the threat, the government official said.
US President Donald Trump would be under severe pressure to strike back, Politico writes.
Ⓒ Reuters
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Marks was sworn in as a US ambassador last October. She has known Trump for more than two decades. She was born in South Africa and speaks some of the country’s major languages, including Afrikaans and Xhosa. Intelligence services are not sure why the Iranians are targeting Marks, who has little or no known ties to Iran. It’s possible the Iranians are taking into account her long friendship with Trump, the US government official said.
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