The United States military has killed an Iranian leader allegedly involved in a plot to assassinate Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign, according to U.S. officials speaking during a Pentagon briefing.
Pete Hegseth, serving as U.S. war secretary, revealed Wednesday that the individual connected to the assassination attempt was among the targets of the ongoing military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury.
“We’ve known for a long time that Iran had intentions on trying to kill President Trump and/or other U.S. officials,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon. While he did not publicly identify the specific Iranian official killed, he said those responsible for the plot were eventually placed on the U.S. military’s target list.
Hegseth added that the assassination plot was not the central reason for the operation but confirmed the individuals behind it were ultimately targeted during the campaign.
U.S. authorities had previously warned of an Iranian effort to assassinate Trump during the 2024 election cycle. The alleged plot became public during federal investigations into threats against American officials.
Trump himself referenced the foiled plan in comments following the U.S.-Israeli operation that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
“I got him before he got me,” Trump told reporters while discussing the strikes.
Operation Epic Fury — a joint U.S. and Israeli military campaign — has reportedly struck thousands of targets across Iran in recent days. During the same briefing, Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon has hit more than 2,000 military targets since the operation began.
Caine also presented video footage showing a United States Navy fast-attack submarine sinking an Iranian vessel in the Indian Ocean using a Mark 48 torpedo, marking the first time an American submarine has torpedoed an enemy ship in combat since World War II.
Hegseth characterized the first days of the operation as “historic,” claiming U.S. forces are gaining rapid control of Iranian airspace while continuing to strike strategic targets across the country.
The operation has dramatically escalated tensions in the Middle East and follows the killing of multiple senior Iranian officials during the ongoing conflict.
