SANAA, Sept. 19 (YPA) – South Africa’s state security agency confirmed on Friday that it found no evidence that Iran was planning to assassinate the US ambassador in Pretoria.
The American Politico news site quoted two unidentified US officials as saying that the intelligence services believe that the Iranian government is planning to assassinate the US ambassador to South Africa, Lana Marx, who is close to President Donald Trump, and the report indicated that the plan was aimed at assassinating her before the presidential elections. In November.
“At this time, the information provided is not sufficient to support allegations of a real threat against the United States ambassador to South Africa,” State Security Agency spokesman Mafa Scott said in a statement, adding, “Plots to assassinate diplomats are being dealt with in a very serious manner and Ambassador Marx has been reassured of our commitment.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry considered what was reported by the US news site merely “false information” and “baseless,” considering its spokesperson that this information is nothing but “repeated and nauseating methods of creating an atmosphere hostile to Iran on the international scene.”
The South African State Security Agency said officials had requested additional information from the US government and urged “everyone to remain calm.”