Trump Reportedly Ordered Soleimani’s Killing 7 Months Ago After John Bolton Urged Him To

President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in June, 2019 according to a report from NBC News. The President decided to target the leader of the al-Quds force at the urging of then National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Current and former Trump administration officials told NBC News that the plan to kill Soleimani, perhaps the most powerful military leader in the Middle East, was approved by Trump in June but with the condition that he would only be targeted if Iranian aggression increased and an American was killed.

When four Americans were wounded and one killed by an Iranian proxy at the beginning, the conditions were met and Trump authorized the killing, according to the report. Bolton reportedly wanted Trump to kill Soleimani when Iran shot down an unmanned drone.

The report is yet more evidence that the administration’s version of events is false. Trump and his cabinet have claimed that there was an imminent threat of attack and they acted to prevent it. No details have been forthcoming and the administration’s position has shifted.

Trump claimed, without evidence, that Iran was planning to attack four U.S. embassies, but Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he had not seen evidence of this though he believed Trump. This claim has been widely criticized as not credible.