The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned state and local law enforcement agencies in the United States of an increased threat from the Iranian government against targets in the United States last month, although the White House tried to downplay the likelihood of an attack, according to a law enforcement report accessed by Reuters, BTA reports.
In the March 20 report, the FBI and other federal intelligence agencies warned that the Iranian government “poses a persistent threat“ to US military and government personnel and facilities, to Jewish and Israeli institutions, as well as to Iranian dissidents in the United States. Despite these warnings, the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center have not identified any significant threats to the American public, the report said.
US President Donald Trump has publicly downplayed the likelihood of Iranian attacks on US soil in response to other intelligence assessments in recent months. When asked at the White House on March 11 whether he was concerned that Iran might carry out an attack on the US, Trump replied: "No, I'm not concerned."
The Republican president has ramped up his rhetoric on the conflict this week, saying on Tuesday that "all of civilization will end tonight" if Iran does not meet his demands, but instead later postponed the attack with a two-week ceasefire.
The March 20 document, titled "Public Safety Awareness Report" – was released weeks after Reuters and other media outlets reported that the White House had blocked the release of a similar intelligence report. At the time, the White House said it was making sure that any information was properly vetted before release.
“The entire Trump administration is working together to protect the homeland and the American people, as always,“ White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement. "The media should not irresponsibly try to instill fear by reporting isolated law enforcement memos that may be taken out of context," she added. The FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ali Karimi Magham, a spokesman for Iran's mission to the United Nations, declined to comment. MOST AMERICANS OPPOSE WAR AND WANT IT TO END QUICKLY Americans have a negative view of the war, with two-thirds saying the United States should end its involvement as soon as possible, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed. (Ipsos) last month, giving particular importance to public perception of any threat.
The FBI report, dated March 20, was obtained through public documents requests filed by the national security transparency NGO Property of the People and was provided to Reuters.
The report highlights the “potential for increased physical threats” against targets in the United States by the Iranian government since the conflict began.
“Aggressive extremists from a variety of ideological backgrounds, including those opposed to the United States or Israel, may also view this conflict as a justification for violence,” the report said.
It also notes that Iranian security services have attempted to kidnap and kill Americans in recent years. The report said most plots in the US involved firearms, as well as other methods such as “stabbings, vehicle attacks, bombings, poisoning, strangulation, suffocation and arson“.
Tehran prefers to use operatives who already have legal status in the US or access to the country, the report said. In the past, the Iranian government has monitored social media, live broadcasts and mapping apps to select targets and assess security measures. The government has also used hacking tactics such as so-called phishing emails.
The FBI document also said that the Iranian government “has also attempted to lure victims to other countries geographically closer to Iran, almost certainly for the purpose of kidnapping and possible execution“. The report warns that law enforcement officials should remain vigilant for possible threats and share troubling information with federal authorities.
Translated from English: Elena Indjeva, BTA