Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale said Iranian regime officials issued instructions to assassinate President Donald Trump and warned that those responsible would remain a threat if they are not removed from power.

Lonsdale made the remarks during a conversation with Patrick Bet-David, where the two discussed Iran, terrorism, and the potential consequences of military action against the regime.

During the discussion, Lonsdale claimed that intelligence obtained from within the Iranian regime revealed instructions to target Trump.

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“Listen, I think these guys sent someone to assassinate Donald Trump,” Lonsdale said.

He said the instructions allegedly came from inside the regime and included guidance on how to proceed if the attempt failed.

“We know this within the regime condom, they were told if they missed that, he’d probably lose the election,” Lonsdale said.

“So wait and try to get him again after he lost the election.”

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Lonsdale said the instructions indicated the effort was not a rogue operation but came from officials inside the regime.

“This was the official instructions we found,” Lonsdale said.

“So these were these guys were trying to kill Trump.”

He warned that if the individuals responsible remain in power, they could attempt additional attacks.

“It means, if they’re still around after Trump’s president, they’ll probably try to get him and his and his kids again.”

Lonsdale said that if he were president, he would not allow such a threat to remain in place.

“So if I was the president, there’s no chance they’d be around after, after I was president,” he said.

“That’s all I’m telling you.”

He also argued that removing the regime’s leadership would benefit people in the region and beyond.

“And by the way, I think it’s very good for the world to eliminate this evil for your people and for all of our peoples.”

Bet-David raised concerns that a conflict with Iran could escalate into a costly war similar to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

“Yeah, a lot of people are worried it could turn into another Iraq, and we spend a few trillion dollars,” Bet-David said.

Lonsdale questioned whether the comparison to Iraq was accurate.

“But is Iran really Iraq?” he asked.

Bet-David said many observers see two possible outcomes if the United States takes military action.

“I don’t think so,” Bet-David said.

“But a lot of people think it could turn into something like that.”

“You know, you hear the two arguments,” he continued.

“I think they’re going to do a surgical mission the way they did Venezuela, and it’s going to be clean, and here’s what’s going to happen.”

“And then the other side is like, how do we know that for a fact?”

Lonsdale said he would favor a decisive strategy focused on removing Iran’s leadership rather than occupying the country.

“So if I was in charge, I’d be very Roman about it,” Lonsdale said.

“So I don’t know. Maybe this is not appropriate, but I’d be very Roman.”

He described what he meant by referencing how the Roman Empire handled enemies.

“So what the Romans would do, you’d go and you wipe out the leadership class, you’re all dead,” Lonsdale said.

“And you say, Okay, you guys are now in charge.”

“We’re going to make a deal,” he continued. “Or we’re going to kill all of you too. It’s up to you.”

Lonsdale said such an approach would force any successor leadership to cooperate.

“Because there’s going to be IRGC, which can charge again, probably right, because they’re the guys with the guns,” he said.

“And say, Okay, now here’s what we’re going to do.”

“We’re gonna make a deal. Here’s what’s gonna happen. Here’s how your public’s gonna work, and to be free people.”

“And if you don’t do that, then we’ll  kill you all in six months too, and then we’ll give you another chance.”

Lonsdale said he opposes the kind of long-term occupation the United States attempted during the Iraq war.

“But I don’t think we should be occupying ourselves,” he said.

“That’s bullshit.”

“I think Iraq was terribly wrong,” Lonsdale continued.

“I think trying to trying to go and have people over there as ridiculous.”

He concluded by arguing that Iranian leaders responsible for violence and terrorism should be held accountable.

“But should these guys who have acted like they’ve had, who spread terrorism around the region, who have tried to kill Trump, who have killed so many people,” Lonsdale said.

“Should they be allowed to get away with that?”

“No way,” he said.

“I wouldn’t let him get away with it. I’ll tell you that.”

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