TEHRAN – Former U.S. President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Saturday during a rally in Pennsylvania, just days before he was expected to secure the Republican nomination for the third time.

According to Trump’s campaign, the former president is “fine” after the shooting, which left him with a minor injury to his right ear.

This incident is the most serious attempt on a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. It has reignited concerns about political violence in the deeply polarized United States, especially with the presidential election less than four months away.

In the wake of the attack, U.S. officials quickly pointed fingers at Iran, suggesting that the assassination attempt was part of a broader plot orchestrated by Iranian operatives. 

An initial report from CNN claimed that U.S. authorities had recently learned of an Iranian threat against Trump’s life, leading to increased security for the former president. However, the report noted that the Iranian threat was not connected to the shooting in Pennsylvania, which was allegedly carried out by a lone 20-year-old gunman.

However, Iranian officials have vehemently denied these accusations. Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, labeled the claims as politically motivated and baseless. He emphasized Iran’s commitment to legal avenues in holding former President Trump accountable for the 2020 assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

Kanaani reiterated that Iran seeks justice for General Soleimani through international legal frameworks, underscoring the need for Trump to be held accountable for the drone strike that killed the Iranian general.

Ali Baqeri Kani, Iran’s Acting Foreign Minister, confirmed that the assassination of General Soleimani is being actively pursued in Iranian courts. Baqeri Kani stated that Iran remains steadfast in its legal efforts to address what they consider a criminal act by Trump.

In a statement to Reuters, Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York also said "these accusations are unsubstantiated and malicious."

"From the perspective of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Trump is a criminal who must be prosecuted and punished in a court of law for ordering the assassination of General Soleimani. Iran has chosen the legal path to bring him to justice," Iran's statement said.

Soleimani, who led the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), were killed in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020. The strike, authorized by Trump, has been a significant point of contention between the U.S. and Iran. 

General Soleimani was celebrated in West Asia for his role in combating the Daesh terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.

The attempted assassination has also highlighted significant security concerns within the United States. The Secret Service has come under scrutiny for allowing a gunman to fire at Trump from an exposed rooftop 150 meters away. This incident has raised questions about the agency’s preparedness and response to potential threats.

In response, U.S. President Joe Biden has ordered an independent review of the Secret Service's handling of the incident. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated that the agency continuously adjusts resources based on new threat information but did not comment on specific threats.

While U.S. officials seems to be willing to suggest Iranian involvement, the incident has exposed vulnerabilities in domestic security that require enhanced security measures within the United States. 

As the investigations continue, Iran has proved to be persistent with its legal pursue of General Soleimani’s assassination, showing the country’s determination to seek justice through international channels.