Iran is planning to target United States diplomats and other officials in new assassination plots, according to two Iranian officials, including a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), The New York Times reported on Saturday.The officials told NYT that Americans were "fair game" due to Israel and the US having attacked and killed many Iranian officials, as well as some family members.
The Iranian officials also confirmed US intelligence reports that Iran was working to increase its ability to actually execute assassination plots against US officials and civilians.US officials expressed concern Iran was in the “advanced stages” of planning these attacks, while Iran is also preparing for the possibility of an Israeli or US strike against it, kickstarting a new phase in the ongoing war between them.One US official warned that evidence existed suggesting that Iranian operatives who are "not just simply Iranian nationals" were present in the US, but that these operatives often exaggerate their actual ability to conduct attacks when communicating with Iran.US intelligence reveals Iran increasing efforts to target AmericansA US official confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Friday that US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio received an intelligence memorandum warning that Iran has significantly increased its efforts to target American officials and citizens, with plots to carry out lethal attacks reaching advanced stages.
The confirmation came after Axios obtained an October 23 memorandum that Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent to Rubio, with a copy to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.The intelligence chief warned that information concerning Iranian plots to target American government personnel was relevant to a wider group of individuals than those currently authorized to receive it.Idan Kweller contributed to this report.
The Jerusalem Post reports a New York Times story in which two Iranian officials called Americans "fair game" and names Israel and the US as the killers of Iranian officials. Its headline and opening line drop the qualifier that Haaretz reports, that US personnel are potential targets if the war escalates, which makes the threat read more flatly than some other coverage of the same interview.
Leaves out what changes the picture
Minor
“Iranian officials say US diplomats, officials are targets for assassinations”
Why this matters
The headline says Iranian officials call US diplomats and officials "targets for assassinations". It gives no condition and no word like potential.
The impression it gives
A reader believes Iranian officials announced that US diplomats are current targets of assassination, whatever happens next.
The context
Other reports of the same New York Times interview say the officials described US personnel as potential targets if the war escalates or another round of fighting erupts. The headline removes that condition.
“Iran is planning to target United States diplomats and other officials in new assassination plots”
Why this matters
The opening line puts the Iranian officials' words as a flat plan: Iran "is planning to target" US diplomats "in new assassination plots".
The impression it gives
A reader believes the Iranian officials confirmed an active, unconditional campaign to assassinate US diplomats.
The context
Haaretz and Ynet report the same interview as describing US personnel as potential targets if the war escalates. The Post mentions Iran preparing for a possible Israeli or US strike only as a separate point and never ties the threat to it.