Mastodawn

In the March 20 report, the #FBI & other federal #intelligence agencies cautioned that the #Iran government "poses a persistent threat" to #US #military & government personnel & buildings, #Jewish & #Israel institutions, & Iranian dissidents in the US. Despite those warnings, the FBI & National Counterterrorism Center had not identified broad threats to the American public, the report said.

#Trump publicly has minimized the possibility of Iranian attacks on #US soil in response to other #intelligence assessments in recent months. When asked ⁠outside the White House on March 11 whether he was worried about #Iran perpetrating an attack in the US, Trump said, "No, I'm not."

…The March 20 report—titled "Public Safety Awareness Report"—was issued weeks after Reuters & other news outlets reported that the White House blocked the release of a similarly described intelligence product.

…The report highlighted "the potential for elevated physical threats" to targets in the #US by the #Iran government following ⁠the start of the conflict.

"Violent extremists with a variety of ideological backgrounds, including those who oppose the US or #Israel, also may see this conflict as a justification for violence," the report stated.

The report said #Iran security services have attempted to kidnap & kill Americans in recent years. While it says most plots in the #US have involved firearms, other ⁠methods included "stabbings, vehicle rammings, bombings, poisoning, strangling, suffocation, & arson."

Tehran prefers to use operatives with existing #US legal status or access to the US, the report said. The #Iran government in the past has monitored social media, livestreams & map applications to choose targets & assess security measures, the report said, adding that the ⁠government also used hacking tactics such as phishing emails.

The #Iran government "also has attempted to lure victims to other countries geographically closer to Iran, almost certainly for kidnapping & eventual executions," it said.

The report warned law enforcement officials should remain vigilant to possible threats & share concerning information with federal authorities.