Iran’s state media has mocked US President Donald Trump after new details emerged about his secret aircraft switch during a visit to Turkey, saying it showed just how nervous he is about the Islamic Republic’s power.
“Again, Trump, with his new scandal, has become the top subject in the US media these days.
A scandal stemming from fear of Iran’s military power, a power that caused Trump, last month, while returning from Turkey, to secretly switch his plane,” said a presenter on state television, adding that the episode has become a source of “humiliation” for Trump.
Earlier reporting noted: The secret operation was reportedly triggered by a threat that Air Force One could be targeted by a shoulder-fired missile, according to a person briefed on the matter, Reuters reported. The Secret Service deemed the threat to be credible and imminent, prompting an extraordinary operation to conceal the US president’s movements. Billboards and murals around Tehran take aim at the US president and Israel, showing images from Trump lying in a coffin to drowning in the sea.
The threat emerged on the final day of Trump’s visit to Ankara for the NATO summit, the source said, as tensions run high due to the ongoing US war on Iran. Trump and a small group of aides used a catering truck to switch from the big blue-and-white presidential aircraft to a smaller, nondescript C-32A jet for the flight out of Turkey on July 8, while Air Force One departed separately carrying senior administration officials, White House staff and the travelling press corps, according to the first source.
A threat that Air Force One could be targeted by a shoulder-fired missile prompted the Secret Service to secretly move Trump onto a smaller government jet, a person briefed on the matter said. “Iranian hardliners, who have been talking about taking revenge for the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader on February 28, as well as some other senior political and military officials in Iran are basking in the fact that the United States was so afraid and concerned about President Trump’s safety and security,” said Ali Vaez, deputy program director for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group. A scandal stemming from fear of Iran’s military power, a power that caused Trump, last month, while returning from Turkey, to secretly switch his plane,” a presenter on Iranian state television said, describing the incident as a source of “humiliation” for the US president.
Earlier reporting noted: ‘Fear of our military’: Iran mocks Trump over aircraft switch during Turkey trip Iranian state media mocked US President Donald Trump after details emerged about a secret aircraft switch during his visit to Turkey last month, portraying the episode as evidence of how seriously Washington views Iran’s military capabilities. Earlier reporting noted: “Again, Trump, with his new scandal, has become the top subject in the US media these days.
