Fact check: Has the Iranian regime been trying to assassinate Donald Trump

1. Summary of the results

There are conflicting claims regarding Iranian attempts to assassinate Donald Trump. The U.S. Department of Justice has presented evidence of at least two specific plots:

• The arrest of Asif Merchant, who allegedly scouted Trump campaign rallies and sent security details to Tehran ^[1]
• Charges against Farhad Shakeri, who was reportedly tasked by the Revolutionary Guard Corps around October 7, 2024, to provide a plan to kill Trump ^[2]

However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has categorically denied these allegations, calling them a scheme to promote "Iranophobia" ^{[3] [3]}

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original question:

• The alleged plots are linked to revenge for the 2020 killing of General Qassem Soleimani ^[2]
• Iranian regime-affiliated media, particularly Kayhan, has openly discussed assassinating Trump, describing it as "fair, God-fearing, and necessary" ^[2]
• While U.S. intelligence officials have briefed Trump about threats, the FBI has found no foreign connection to recent assassination attempts ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The situation is more complex than a simple yes/no answer, with several parties potentially benefiting from different narratives:

*Pro-Iranian narrative benefits:

• Iranian government can maintain deniability while appeasing hardliners through media rhetoric ^[2]
• Helps counter what they term "Iranophobia" in international relations ^[3]

Pro-U.S. narrative benefits:*

• Justifies continued pressure on Iran and the Revolutionary Guard Corps
• Supports U.S. Justice Department's actions in pursuing charges against alleged Iranian operatives ^{[2] [5]}

It's worth noting that while multiple U.S. agencies are tracking threats, there appears to be some disagreement between intelligence agencies, with the FBI's findings contradicting some of the broader narrative ^[4].