The Islamic Republic's attempts to assassinate Donald Trump in retaliation for his killing of top IRGC general Qassem Soleimani may have pushed the president-elect toward a direct strike on Iran during his second term, The New York Times reports.

"Trump was reluctant to attack Iran during his first time in office. But his view, aides say, may have been hardened by the Iranian government’s attempts to hire assassins to kill Trump," The New York Times reported on Tuesday.