In brief
Iran has communicated to the Biden administration that it does not intend to take action against Donald Trump, countering the perception of escalating threats in the wake of prior U.S. military actions.
In October, Iran sent a message through an intermediary to the Biden administration, clarifying that it was not attempting to harm Donald J. Trump. This diplomatic outreach was initiated after U.S. officials warned in September that any Iranian plot against Trump, who was then the Republican presidential candidate, would be regarded as an "act of war." The backdrop to this tense exchange revolves around the anti-Iran sentiment following the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Major General Qassim Suleimani in January 2020. Since Trump's electoral victory on November 5, some Iranian commentators and former officials have expressed hope for a more diplomatic approach to the incoming administration, hinting at a desire to mitigate tensions despite Trump's allies signaling a tough stance towards Tehran. U.S. intelligence had indicated that Iranian entities considered retaliatory actions against Trump, motivated by vengeance for the Suleimani strike. Notably, the Justice Department has issued indictments related to alleged Iranian plots against Trump and other officials from his administration. Conversations with officials regarding these sensitive diplomatic communications were conducted under anonymity to ensure privacy.
