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Qasem Soleimani: Democrats question Trump's embassy attacks claim Qasem Soleimani: Iran was targeting four US embassies, says Trump
(about 1 hour later)
Democrats are demanding information about President Donald Trump's claim an Iranian general killed by the US was planning attacks on US embassies. Iran was planning attacks on four US embassies when their top general was killed, President Donald Trump says.
Mr Trump first made the claim at the White House on Thursday. He repeated it in Ohio during his first campaign rally of 2020. When asked what threat led to the US drone strike, he told Fox News: "I can reveal that I believe it probably would've been four embassies."
Democrats briefed on the strike that killed Gen Qasem Soleimani say they have seen no evidence of embassy plots. The killing of Gen Qasem Soleimani, a national hero, came after days of protests at the US embassy in Baghdad.
The US secretary of state, however, said there was clear evidence. But Democrats given intelligence briefings on the fatal strike say they have seen no evidence of embassy plots.
"I don't know exactly which minute. We don't know exactly which day it would have been executed," Mike Pompeo said at a White House briefing, referring to the alleged plot on US forces. Mr Trump first made the embassy claim at the White House on Thursday and repeated it that night at a rally in Ohio.
"But it was very clear. Qasem Soleimani himself was plotting a broad, large scale attack against American interests. And those attacks were imminent," Mr Pompeo said, adding that they were "against American facilities including American embassies and military bases". He was also backed up by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
"We had specific information on an imminent threat and those included attacks on US embassies. Period, full stop," he said. "We had specific information on an imminent threat and those included attacks on US embassies. Period, full stop," said Mr Pompeo as he announced new sanctions against Iran.
In other developments Soleimani was the mastermind of Iran's activities in the Middle East, as an architect of the Syrian government's war against rebels and the rise of pro-Iranian paramilitaries in Iraq.
Mr Trump and Mr Pompeo have said he was responsible for the deaths of thousands.
What did Trump say?What did Trump say?
Speaking at an environmental event at the White House on Thursday, Mr Trump told reporters that he authorised the attack because Iran was "looking to blow up our embassy". His first comments on the matter were at an environmental event at the White House on Thursday, telling reporters he authorised the attack because Iran was "looking to blow up our embassy".
He also called it "obvious" that the protesters that attacked the US embassy in Baghdad days before Soleimani's death were organised by Iran.He also called it "obvious" that the protesters that attacked the US embassy in Baghdad days before Soleimani's death were organised by Iran.
"And you know who organised it. That man right now is not around any longer. Okay? And he had more than that particular embassy in mind.""And you know who organised it. That man right now is not around any longer. Okay? And he had more than that particular embassy in mind."
In Ohio later, Mr Trump told a packed arena that "Soleimani was actively planning new attacks, and he was looking very seriously at our embassies, and not just the embassy in Baghdad".In Ohio later, Mr Trump told a packed arena that "Soleimani was actively planning new attacks, and he was looking very seriously at our embassies, and not just the embassy in Baghdad".
He also mocked Democrats who complained that the White House did not provide proper notification to lawmakers, saying that Democrats would have leaked the US military plans to the media.He also mocked Democrats who complained that the White House did not provide proper notification to lawmakers, saying that Democrats would have leaked the US military plans to the media.
On Friday, he told Fox News: "I can reveal that I believe it would've been four embassies."
What evidence is there?What evidence is there?
Mr Trump referred to the US embassy protests as evidence of an imminent Iranian plot. However, those protests had ended by the time the US launched a drone attack on Soleimani's motorcade at the Baghdad airport.Mr Trump referred to the US embassy protests as evidence of an imminent Iranian plot. However, those protests had ended by the time the US launched a drone attack on Soleimani's motorcade at the Baghdad airport.
House Armed Services committee chairman Adam Smith, a Democrat, said there was "no evidence" of a future Iranian bombing attack on a US embassy presented during a classified White House briefing given to lawmakers on Wednesday.House Armed Services committee chairman Adam Smith, a Democrat, said there was "no evidence" of a future Iranian bombing attack on a US embassy presented during a classified White House briefing given to lawmakers on Wednesday.
"Nobody that I've talked to in any setting, and I've talked to quite a few people in the White House, has said that," he told Politico."Nobody that I've talked to in any setting, and I've talked to quite a few people in the White House, has said that," he told Politico.
"It has been communicated to me that there weren't specific targets, that the intel that we had did not cite specific targets, just more of a broad thing," he said."It has been communicated to me that there weren't specific targets, that the intel that we had did not cite specific targets, just more of a broad thing," he said.
"So if the president had evidence of the specific target, that has not been communicated to us.""So if the president had evidence of the specific target, that has not been communicated to us."
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a frontrunner to take on Mr Trump in November's election, said Mr Trump could not be trusted.Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a frontrunner to take on Mr Trump in November's election, said Mr Trump could not be trusted.
"The difficulty that we have, and I don't mean to be rude here, is that we have a president who is a pathological liar," he told NBC News."The difficulty that we have, and I don't mean to be rude here, is that we have a president who is a pathological liar," he told NBC News.
"So could it be true? I guess it could be. Is it likely to be true? Probably not," he added."So could it be true? I guess it could be. Is it likely to be true? Probably not," he added.
Democrats are not the only ones who have appeared to grow frustrated by the lack of details from the White House regarding why Soleimani's death was urgently required.Democrats are not the only ones who have appeared to grow frustrated by the lack of details from the White House regarding why Soleimani's death was urgently required.
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee slammed the White House briefing as "insulting" and "completely unacceptable".Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee slammed the White House briefing as "insulting" and "completely unacceptable".
He called the briefing a "drive-by notification or after-the-fact, lame briefing", adding that officials "struggled to identify" any reason that the White House would ever co-ordinate with Congress on military actions.He called the briefing a "drive-by notification or after-the-fact, lame briefing", adding that officials "struggled to identify" any reason that the White House would ever co-ordinate with Congress on military actions.
On Thursday, the US House of Representatives voted to limit Mr Trump's ability to wage war on Iran.On Thursday, the US House of Representatives voted to limit Mr Trump's ability to wage war on Iran.
US House votes to limit Trump war powers on Iran
New sanctionsNew sanctions
On Friday, the White House authorised new sanctions against Iran that were designed to "stop the Iranian regime's global terrorist activities," US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said.On Friday, the White House authorised new sanctions against Iran that were designed to "stop the Iranian regime's global terrorist activities," US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said.
He said the penalties would affect Iran's construction, manufacturing and mining industries. Mr Pompeo said the targets were Iran's "inner security apparatus".He said the penalties would affect Iran's construction, manufacturing and mining industries. Mr Pompeo said the targets were Iran's "inner security apparatus".
In a statement, Mr Trump called Iran the "world's leading sponsor of terrorism" and vowed to counter Iranian threats "until the Iranian regime changes its behaviour".In a statement, Mr Trump called Iran the "world's leading sponsor of terrorism" and vowed to counter Iranian threats "until the Iranian regime changes its behaviour".