Iran

Plots to Kill US Officials 'An Ongoing Threat,' Blinken Says

APR 27 2022·Updated JAN 20 2023

Story

Image credit: Reuters [via Al Jazeera]

The Facts

During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Tues., Sec. of State Antony Blinken said there's "an ongoing threat" against past and present American officials, seemingly confirming reports that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has made credible threats to kill officials from the US.
New York Post
The statement came in response to a question from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) following a report that revealed the State Dept. is paying $2M a month to protect former Sec. of State Mike Pompeo and one of his top aides, Brian Hook, from "serious and credible" threats from Iran.
New York Post
Pompeo was one of the chief architects of the Trump administration's hardline approach to Tehran. After the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, he re-implemented sanctions and supported the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Jan. 2020.
Reuters
The State Dept.'s Bureau of Diplomatic Security automatically protects all former heads for 180 days after leaving office. Blinken has repeatedly extended Pompeo's protection for 60-day periods at a time.
PBS NewsHour
Without naming Iran, Blinken told the hearing Tues., "I'm not sure what I can say in an open setting. Let me say generically, there is an ongoing threat against American officials both present and past."
New York Post
Earlier in the hearing, Democrats and Republicans pressed Blinken on the Biden administration's decision to pursue re-entering the nuclear deal.
New York Post

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Republican narrative

After the US pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and designated the IRGC a terrorist organization, Blinken confirmed that attacks against US officials went up 400% from 2019 to 2020. Why exactly are Democrats negotiating a new deal with Iran?

New York Post

Democratic narrative

As Blinken told the hearing on Tues., bringing Iran back into compliance with an international agreement is the best way to curb its nuclear threats. The US has made clear it will not de-list the IRGC as a terrorist organization without the proper steps being taken.

Al Jazeera

Establishment-critical narrative

Blinken's claim comes as all signs indicate the Biden administration is backing away from negotiations with Tehran to revive the Iran nuclear deal. But besides the rhetoric and claims from the US government, there are no real indications Iran is planning any assassination attempts on US soil.

AntiWar