Iran Rejects Plot To Assassinate US Ambassador Lana Marks
The Iranian embassy in Pretoria has rejected reports that the country is planning to assassinate US ambassador to South Africa Lana Marks as revenge for the killing of top general Qassem Soleimani, reports eNCA.
The rejection follows reports that Iran is considering assassinating the US ambassador to South Africa according to highly classified intelligence reports.
Politico reports that Iran is probably targetting US ambassador to South Africa Lana Marks because of her closeness to US President Donald Trump.
The reports state that US officials believe Iran’s regime is considering retaliation for Iranian general Qassem Soleimani’s assassination earlier this year.
The plot against the ambassador, Lana Marks, is one of several options US officials believe Iran is considering for retaliation over President Trump’s decision to kill Iran’s powerful general Soleimani.
His death dramatically ratcheted up serious tensions between the two nations as they threatened to ignite a third world war.
If intelligence received on plans to eliminate Ambassador Marks would go according to form, it would see Iran finally getting their score on the political tit for tat game the two countries have been playing for years.
It will further create enormous pressure on Trump to strike back — possibly in the middle of a tense election season.
Sources close to the development have revealed that Marks has consequently been made aware of the threats. It is however not known why she has been chosen as a target.
Ambassador Lana Marks was born in South Africa and has been a close friend to Donald Trump for more than two decades. This friendship may be one way Iranians have taken advantage of to hurt Trump amid run for the second term in office.
She is also an easy target – compared to other US officials across the world – for the Iranian government which also has some operations in ‘not so secure’ South Africa.
US Intel has been on high alert for Iranian revenge since the recent January airstrike that killed Soleimani as he was visiting Baghdad. Many high officials have been on Iran’s hit list, including Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command.
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