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The Independent
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Iran almost assassinated former Trump Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2022, new book claims
Iran almost succeeded in assassinating President Donald Trump's former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2022, according to a new book. Pompeo, who served as the 70th Secretary of State from 2018 – 2021, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt while he was staying at a hotel in Paris, according to the book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf. The alleged incident described in the book, obtained by The Washington Post ahead of its publication next month, has not been publicly reported until now. It claims the Iranians had identified the Parisian hotel where Pompeo was staying when they reportedly tried to carry out the hit. The book does not provide further details, other than they almost succeeded, according to The Post. The book also claims the Iranians attempted to assassinate U.S. officials at least three times in the three years before Trump won the 2024 election. Another bombshell from the book, which has not been reported before, is that Iran recruited hit teams that were active on American soil, U.S. intelligence officials reportedly told Trump's campaign team in September 2024. Trump revoked Pompeo's security protection in January, along with former national security adviser John Bolton. Pompeo had 'credible and serious threats' made against him by Iran and could be unsafe without protection, an unnamed former intelligence official told CNN at the time. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked by reporters Thursday whether Trump was considering reinstating the protection for officials, including Pompeo, who had previously faced threats from Iran. 'That's not under consideration right now,' Leavitt said. Pompeo played a key role in Trump's first administration in shaping policy on Iran and playing a role in the president's order to assassinate Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander. Pompeo's spokesman declined to comment on the book when approached by The Post. The book is based on interviews with hundreds of people, including White House officials, senior Trump campaign staff and law enforcement. In Pompeo's own 2023 book Never Give an Inch, he referred to the 'many' threats he and his family have experienced since leaving office. 'While details must be omitted here, other Americans — some former Trump administration officials, some senior American military leaders, and some ordinary Americans — remain on the Iranian kill list,' Pompeo wrote. 'Most disturbingly for us and our families, Iran's assassination campaigns have no expiration date.' The revelation comes as tensions between the U.S. and Iran have reached new heights after Trump authorized strikes on Iran's nuclear sites last weekend. The Trump administration hoped the strikes on Iran would force the country to accept U.S. conditions and stop taking steps toward obtaining a nuclear weapon. But the Iranian parliament with International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear oversight agency. The U.S. had initially planned to conduct a sixth round of negotiations before Israel started striking Iran.
Wall Street Journal
2 days ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Uproar Over Leaked Intelligence Underlines Murky View of Iran Strikes
WASHINGTON—President Trump on Wednesday doubled down on his claims that U.S. military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites crippled Tehran's ability to pursue a nuclear bomb, rejecting a leaked preliminary intelligence report that assessed the American strike had merely delayed Iran's efforts for a few months. The dispute points to a larger problem that is likely to bedevil U.S. intelligence analysis and experts for many months, as they attempt to determine the full extent of damage on the nuclear facilities that were struck.
Wall Street Journal
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Shifting World Order Threatens to Expand the Nuclear-Arms Club
When it came to nuclear weapons, the U.S. had two top priorities in the 1990s. One was to ensure that newly independent Ukraine handed over its vast arsenal to Russia. The other was to prevent North Korea from obtaining its own nukes. The first effort was a success, but today, many regard Ukraine's disarmament as a strategic blunder, leaving it vulnerable to a Russian invasion that has triggered the bloodiest European war in generations. The second attempt was a failure: Pyongyang deftly exploited American reluctance to use military force and became a nuclear-armed state that can challenge global security.
Wall Street Journal
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Israel Built Its Case for War With Iran on New Intelligence. The U.S. Didn't Buy It.
WASHINGTON—Before launching its attack on Iran last week, Israel provided the U.S. with intelligence it deemed alarming: Tehran was conducting renewed research useful for a nuclear weapon, including on an explosive triggering system. But U.S. officials briefed by the Israelis weren't convinced that the information pointed to a decision by Tehran to build a bomb, according to a senior intelligence official, another U.S. official and two congressional aides familiar with the discussions.
Wall Street Journal
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Companies Warned On Iranian Cyberattacks
The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel has cyber experts concerned that cyberattacks could spill over into places conventional weapons never would. Iran has been a significant cyber threat for years. The U.S. has said hackers linked to the country have broken into critical infrastructure systems in Israel and other Middle Eastern and Western nations. It is considered one of the major cyber adversaries of the U.S., alongside Russia, China and North Korea. Targets have included sensitive companies such as a water utility in Aliquippa, Pa., in 2023. Late last year, a joint advisory from U.S., British, Israeli and Canadian intelligence agencies warned that Iran-linked hackers were targeting industrial systems and outlined their tactics.
