OPINION:
We now know that the United States had intelligence that Iran was brewing a plot to kill former President Donald Trump weeks before 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks’ assassination attempt this month. While authorities have clarified that this latest threat is most likely not directly tied to the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, the specific threat by the mullahs, alongside many long-standing threats against Mr. Trump and others, cannot be overlooked.
The real, insidious danger lies deeper — infiltrating high-level U.S. private and public institutions, underscoring a critical national security threat.
The threat from Iran’s regime against former U.S. officials remains serious and ongoing. This situation traces back to January 2020, when then-President Trump ordered the assassination of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a key Iranian military leader. The attack was a significant blow to the regime, leading to the issuance of fatwas against Mr. Trump, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, then-Iran envoy Brian Hook and other U.S. officials. These threats are as credible and severe today as they were immediately after the attack. Consequently, Congress has and continues authorizing private security for Mr. Pompeo and Mr. Hook to ensure their safety.
But the mullahs aren’t just making empty threats. They are actively participating in and driving movements here on U.S. soil. We are now witnessing the chilling reality of pro-Hamas student demonstrations and encampments at our universities. These movements are not organic; they are funded and influenced by Iran’s regime. This influence extends beyond visible protests, infiltrating Middle Eastern studies and other academic departments. The aim is clear: Shape and control the narrative to align with the ayatollahs’ agenda.
The infiltration doesn’t stop at educational institutions. Iran has managed to plant people in our government; many are double agents spreading misinformation and pushing the regime’s agenda. The media, a pillar of democracy, haven’t been spared either. Even nongovernmental organizations, often seen as society’s moral compass, are not immune. Many have fallen prey to regime influence, subtly shifting their objectives to align with Iran’s goals. And then there are the lobbies in Washington with regime apologists and mouthpieces masquerading as “Iran experts” and often on the ayatollahs’ payroll.
They are quoted in our most prominent media outlets and have seats on educational panels. They are often paraded on television, convincing the American people that the murderous mullahs deserve another chance at normal relations with the United States. This deep infiltration means that the influence of the Iran regime is pervasive, touching nearly every aspect of American life, from public opinion to policymaking.
Our national security is at a higher risk than we may realize. While the threats to high-profile figures such as Mr. Trump are blatant and visible, the more subtle infiltration of our institutions poses an equally dire threat. Every day that we allow the Iran regime’s influence to proliferate within our borders is another day we jeopardize the foundation of our democracy and security.
America needs to wake up to the reality that over the last 45 years, instead of curbing the Iran regime’s influence in the Middle East, we’ve enabled its spread around the world, including the most sensitive sectors of American life. We must urge our legislators to recognize the gravity of this situation and take decisive action. The tentacles of this insidious influence must be severed.
The need for vigilance has never been greater. The regime’s infiltration is not just a foreign policy issue; it is a domestic emergency. It’s time to demand transparency, fortify our institutions and reclaim the integrity of our nation’s core values, regardless of who our next president is. Only then can we ensure that the threats posed by external forces are neutralized and our democratic principles remain intact.
It’s time to act.
• Lisa Daftari is a journalist and foreign policy expert who is editor in chief of The Foreign Desk (www.foreigndesknews.com).
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