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Iranian National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei rejected claims that Tehran had prepared a plan to attack U.S. President Donald Trump's son Barron Trump after reports claimed that Iranian state television aired a video saying that a $10 million bounty had been placed on him.
Rezaei described the allegations as Israeli-generated fake reports, arguing that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had spread false reports about an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump to frighten the U.S. president and negatively affect his decision-making.
"We cannot be prevented from carrying out a decision once we make it. However, these reports are nothing more than Netanyahu’s nonsense," Rezaei told Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar television.
Earlier this week, reports claimed that Iranian state television aired a video containing details about Barron Trump's whereabouts, education, security and personal interests, as well as information on how he could be reached, while offering a $10 million reward to anyone who carried out an assassination.
The nearly three-minute video was released by media affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and broadcast on Channel 3 of Iranian state television, according to reports.
The footage also claimed that an unidentified woman had managed to get past Barron's Secret Service protection and meet with him privately before passing information to the program's producers. It further alleged that Barron used Xbox voice and text functions to communicate privately away from his security detail.
However, those claims could not be independently verified. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it was aware of the broadcast and said it investigates anything that can be perceived as a threat to people under its protection.
In the same interview, Rezaei warned that Iran would target U.S. economic interests if the blockade on its ports, reimposed in July, continues. "If the blockade continues, we will target U.S. economic interests 100% with great violence and force," he said.
Rezaei also tied the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the United States meeting Iran's conditions. He identified an end to wars in West Asia, particularly in Lebanon and Gaza, among Tehran's demands and said a list of conditions was being prepared for delivery to the U.S. side.
For now, he said, ships were allowed to use a temporary route through the middle of the strait, while future maritime traffic would depend on an agreement with Washington, he explained.
Rezaei separately said Iran's oil sales had returned to pre-sanctions levels, adding that Tehran was drawing down stocks held in floating storage facilities and establishing new export routes that were gradually expanding.
He also said Iran was closely following developments in Lebanon and insisted that Israel would have to withdraw from areas it occupies there.
Rezaei further threatened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Iran would "send Benjamin Netanyahu to hell."
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