Iran reportedly paid bounties to the Taliban to target US troops in Afghanistan

Iran paid bounties to the Taliban to target US troops, according to a US intelligence assessment first reported on by CNN.

The suspected bounty plot was reportedly cited by US officials as part of the justification for the drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The Trump administration decided against taking a more explicit action over the alleged Iranian bounty plot in order to shield ongoing, tenuous peace talks with the Taliban.

The CNN report comes after the Trump administration has faced questioning and pressure in recent weeks over reports that Russia also paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants to target US troops.

President Donald Trump has downplayed the Russian bounty reports, and the Trump administration has not taken any known actions in response.

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US intelligence agencies determined that Iran paid bounties to the Taliban to target US troops and coalition forces in Afghanistan, CNN’s Zachary Cohen reported on Monday.

The intelligence agencies identified payments linked to six attacks carried out by the Taliban in 2019, including a deadly suicide bombing at Bagram Air Base in December. The bombing killed two civilians and injured dozens, including four US personnel.

Bounties were paid by a foreign government to the Haqqani network, whose leader is the deputy head of the Afghan Taliban, for the Bagram attack, according to a Pentagon briefing document reviewed by CNN.