Revealed: Iran’s plot to infiltrate Trump’s team to stop him toppling regime

Secret document outlines Tehran’s plan to woo figures close to the Republican candidate to soften his stance on the Islamic Republic

Iran is plotting to infiltrate Donald Trump’s team amid fears he could topple its regime, according to a secret dossier.
The Telegraph has obtained a regime policy planning document which reveals Tehran’s five-point strategy to woo figures close to the Republican candidate’s camp in an attempt to soften his stance on the Islamic Republic.
The 120-page dossier, entitled “US Re-Trumpization 2024,” expresses fears over how Trump could “adopt a maximum pressure policy against Iran,” including limiting its control of the Middle East and ending relationships with Russia and Saudi Arabia, if he regains the White House.
It cites a renewed American focus on Tehran because of its support for Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi terror groups in the year following the October 7 attack on Israel.
“They realized their assessments were incorrect and that Iran continues to support resistance groups,” the document reads. “Consequently, both Democrats and Republicans are likely to seek increased pressure on Iran after the Gaza war.”
Trump, who is described by Iran as “the frontrunner in the 2024 United States election,” is considered a particular threat because of previously hostile policies towards the Islamic Republic, including sanctioning the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, its top general, in 2020.
He recently said Israel should “hit the nuclear first and worry about the rest later” in response to last week’s Iranian ballistic missile barrage.
It comes after Boris Johnson, Britain’s former prime minister, described the “sheer unpredictability” of Trump as a reason why rogue leaders fear him, in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph.
Tehran felt that it was caught off guard ahead of Trump’s 2016 election victory, having planned for a White House led by Hillary Clinton maintaining Barack Obama’s cordial approach to relations with Iran.
The Islamic Republic has been previously accused of attempting to hack Mr. Trump’s campaign and setting up phony websites targeting African-American and Muslim voters in the critical state of Michigan in an attempt to sway the election against Trump.
The plan to “neutralize” the threat posed by Trump, according to the Iranian document, involves lobbying hundreds of former administration officials and think tanks close to the Republican candidate.
The document was drawn up at the request of Ali Khamenei by Saramad, an institute close to the supreme leader.
It contains the names and pictures of around 300 officials, judges and municipal politicians considered close to the former president.
“It is necessary to identify individuals who are expected to be appointed as secretary of state, national security adviser and head of the Iran program in the new US administration before their appointments,” the Iranian strategy dictates.
“Additionally, the close associates of these individuals should be identified to better and more quickly influence them.”
Once relationships have been established, the document says: “Guiding these individuals can prevent anti-Iranian projects… from succeeding.”
Iran also highlights plans to create a “network of elites” in the US who are capable of influencing Trump’s potential government.
It names the Right-leaning Heritage Foundation and pro-Trump American First Policy Institute think tanks as potential targets for lobbying.
There is no suggestion that the groups will be open to approaches from Iran or pro-Tehran figures.
“Creating a network of such individuals who can indirectly promote Iran’s intentions and interests and control public opinion in case of tensions between Iran and the US is crucial,” the document states, adding think tank influence can be “considerable” in Washington.
“The importance of this strategy lies in creating favorable discourse within these think tanks to advance our narrative more cost-effectively,” it adds.
The Iranian document suggests using Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the late last Shah of Iran.
While Mr. Pahlavi, who is based in Washington, is considered an outspoken opponent of the Iranian regime, he is considered a useful tool to push issues like reducing US sanctions on Tehran for the benefit of its people.
The son of the Shah, the Iranian leader deposed in a 1979 Islamic revolution, is seen as someone who can interact with Trump’s campaign because of his father’s once-close bond with the US.
There is no suggestion that Mr. Pahlavi is lobbying on behalf of the Iranian regime.
A source close to Mr. Pahlavi said: “His views on this extreme and murderous regime are very clear. They need to be toppled by the Iranian people not appeased. Reports like this are part of the regime’s disinformation efforts to create confusion and division.”
The fourth and fifth pillars of the Iranian strategy to manage threats posed by Trump are domestic plans to dictate and control the narrative of tensions with the US.
A so-called “US Action Group” would be set to formulate future policies and the work of the lobbying groups in the US.
And then “domestic experts and analysts” will be ordered to produce content that promotes the idea that “Iran has overcome challenges imposed by the US since the Islamic Revolution.”