US Warned Iran of ‘Terrorist Threat’ Before January 3 Attack – Official, According to Reuters

By Simon Lewis and Arshad Mohammed

WASHINGTON – The U.S. government recently issued a private warning to Iran regarding a “terrorist threat” within its borders prior to a tragic attack this month that was claimed by the Islamic State militant group, according to a U.S. official.

The official characterized the warning about the January 3 attack, which involved two suicide bombings in the southeastern city of Kerman and resulted in nearly 100 deaths and many injuries, as routine. However, some analysts believe it may reflect an intention by the U.S. to foster trust with Iran.

This effort takes place amidst ongoing attacks by Iran-backed groups on Western interests, including a deadly assault by Hamas on October 7 that claimed around 1,200 lives in southern Israel, along with missile strikes on an Iraqi airbase where U.S. forces are stationed.

“The U.S. government adhered to a longstanding ‘duty to warn’ policy, implemented across different administrations, to alert governments about potential lethal threats. We provide these warnings partly to prevent the loss of innocent lives in terrorist attacks,” the official noted, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The warning was first reported by a leading financial news outlet.

Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East program at a prominent think tank based in Washington, suggested that this warning indicates a broader U.S. interest in establishing dialogue with Iran, despite the recent attacks on U.S., Israeli, and other Western targets by Iranian-backed proxies, as well as advancements in Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“This represents an olive branch,” Alterman remarked, noting that President Biden’s administration initially believed that dialogue could be beneficial for both Washington and Tehran.

Biden’s attempts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which was abandoned by former President Trump in 2018, have not yielded results. Nevertheless, Alterman suggested that Biden’s team remains interested in exploring avenues for communication with Iran.

“They have consistently recognized the value of dialogue, though the challenge lies in determining what issues to discuss and under what conditions,” he explained. “This was an opportunity to begin rebuilding trust, reflecting a strategic approach to diplomacy.”

Aaron David Miller, a scholar at another Washington think tank, agreed with this perspective. He pointed out the unsuccessful negotiations surrounding the nuclear deal and acknowledged the difficulty of fundamentally changing a relationship characterized by hostility since the establishment of the Islamic Republic.

“You cannot fundamentally transform U.S.-Iranian relations. The goal should be to seek opportunities for transactions, de-escalation, and to prevent an escalation that could lead to war,” he stated.