### U.S. Intelligence Briefs Trump Campaign on Iranian Threats, Increases Security Measures

In a significant development, U.S. intelligence briefed Donald Trump's campaign on ongoing Iranian threats against the Republican presidential nominee. This briefing, focusing on previously reported threats, did not present any new plots. Following intelligence reports of these threats, the Secret Service upgraded Trump's security in July.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Wednesday that officials have been monitoring Iranian threats against various U.S. officials, including Trump and some current members of President Joe Biden's administration. The focus on these threats comes amid heightened campaign tensions, especially after two separate assassination attempts targeting Trump. However, no direct evidence connects Iran to these incidents.

A campaign spokesperson for Trump, Steven Cheung, stated that the briefing included information on "real and specific" threats aimed at "assassinating him to create instability and chaos in the United States." The intelligence briefing was requested by the Trump campaign, a U.S. official revealed, who also noted that some of the information presented was years old and did not suggest a new threat.

Trump's campaign has attempted to highlight Iran's threats as a critical political issue, portraying Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris as weak on foreign policy. The campaign has also misrepresented some details to falsely claim that Harris's campaign benefited from Iranian hacks into Trump's campaign.

During a speech on Wednesday, Trump advocated for a strong response to Iranian threats. "If I were the president, I would inform Iran that any harm to this person would result in your largest cities and the country itself being obliterated," he declared.

Intelligence officials also noted that Iran, alongside Russia and China, has executed an extensive online influence campaign aimed at amplifying discord ahead of the November election. These efforts have primarily targeted Trump, perceived as more likely to heighten U.S.-Iran tensions. Despite stealing information from Trump's campaign, Iranian hackers failed to engage news organizations or Biden's campaign with the material.

Concerns over Iranian threats extend beyond the upcoming election. Iranian leaders have vowed revenge since the U.S., under Trump's administration, assassinated Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020. In July, U.S. authorities received reports of an Iranian threat against Trump's life, leading to enhanced security measures for him. Shortly after, a Pakistani man allegedly linked to Iran was charged in a plot to carry out political assassinations on U.S. soil, with legal filings suggesting Trump as a potential target.

In 2022, an Iranian operative was charged with plotting to murder former National Security Adviser John Bolton, presumably in retaliation for Soleimani's death. Blinken reiterated on Wednesday that authorities continue to closely investigate Iran's threats against multiple senior U.S. officials, including Trump and those in Biden’s administration.

The National Security Council labeled these threats as a high-priority national and homeland security concern, condemning Iran for the bold threats following Soleimani's killing. Trump's recent speech linked Iran to the assassination attempts, although authorities found no such connection.

The first attempt occurred at a rally in Pennsylvania in July, where authorities killed a gunman targeting Trump. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had searched online for events involving both Trump and Biden, ultimately seeing the Trump rally as an opportunity. The FBI believes Crooks acted alone.

In the second attempt, suspect Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was apprehended after a chase at Trump's Florida golf course. Routh's social media activity showed a decline in his support for Trump in recent years, and he had written a letter outlining plans to kill him. Since the July attempt, Trump has been receiving the highest level of protection, the Secret Service confirmed.

The Secret Service remained silent on whether they had taken recent actions in response to any new Iranian threats but ensured that Trump's protective measures remain robust.