Iranian Official Who Plotted to Assassinate Trump Killed, Hegseth Says

‘We’ve known for a long time that Iran had intentions on trying to kill President Trump and or other U.S. officials,’ Hegseth said.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth takes questions during a press conference on U.S. military action in Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington on March 2, 2026. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said on March 4 that the leader of an Iranian unit who had allegedly attempted to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump has been “hunted down and killed.”

Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon that Iran “tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh.”