Former Iranian adviser hints at drone strike threat to Trump at Mar-a-Lago

Srinagar, July 11: In a startling and inflammatory statement, Mohammad-Javad Larijani, a former senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appeared to suggest that former U.S. President Donald Trump could be targeted by an Iranian drone strike while at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Speaking on Iranian state TV on July 9, Larijani said Trump should no longer feel safe sunbathing at the resort, warning that “while he’s lying down, a micro-drone might target and strike him right in the navel.” The comments were first reported by Iran International, a London-based Persian news outlet. The remarks have drawn attention for their threatening tone amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States.

When questioned about the threat during a Fox News interview, US President Trump responded with characteristic dismissiveness. "It's been a long time. I don't know, maybe I was around seven or so. I'm not too big into it," he joked when asked about his last sunbathing session. On the veiled warning, Trump added, “I guess it's a threat. I'm sure it's not a threat, actually, but perhaps it is.” The United States Secret Service (USSS) issued a statement saying it does not discuss specific protective intelligence matters. “We operate in a heightened and very dynamic threat environment and the safety and security of the President and all of our protectees remains our highest priority,” the USSS spokesperson added.

This comes two weeks after the US bombed Iran's nuclear and military facilities, while interfering in Israel and Iran's 12 day war. Trump has said repeatedly that the US bombings on Iran's nuclear sites have "obliterated" them. However, some experts say that the damage has not been enough and floated the possibility that Iran has secretly moved its enriched uranium stockpile before the strikes.