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Monday, September 14, 2020, 17:58
Iran denies US envoy is target, South Africa unaware of threat
By Bloomberg
Monday, September 14, 2020, 17:58 By Bloomberg

Protesters hold up an image of Qassem Soleimani during a demonstration following the US airstrike in Iraq which killed him, in Tehran, Iran, on Jan 3, 2020. (ALI MOHAMMADI / BLOOMBERG)

Iran denied a report that it’s plotting to assassinate the US ambassador to South Africa, and the government in Pretoria said it’s unaware of any such threat.

Politico reported on Sunday that Iran is considering an attempt to assassinate US Ambassador Lana Marks to avenge the US’s killing of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani earlier this year

Politico reported on Sunday that Iran is considering an attempt to assassinate US Ambassador Lana Marks to avenge the US’s killing of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani earlier this year. 

ALSO READ: UN: Targeted killing of Iran's Soleimani by US armed drone unlawful

Intelligence about the alleged threat, which first surfaced in the spring, has become more specific in recent weeks, the news website said, citing an unidentified US government official.

“Such baseless claims are part of the Trump administration’s intelligence campaign against Iran,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Monday in a statement.

ALSO READ: Iran says it will execute man who spied on Soleimani for CIA

A spokesman for South Africa’s Foreign Ministry said the US official’s allegation took Pretoria by surprise.

“We only became aware of this report this morning,” Lunga Ngqengelele said by phone on Monday. Department of International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor may issue a statement later, he said.

Calls to Iran’s embassy in Pretoria weren’t answered and it didn’t immediately respond to a voice mail and email requesting comment.

READ MORE: In death, Iran's Soleimani leaves perilous dilemma for Iraq


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