News - Middle East: The US Secret Service reportedly paid over $12 million to protect two security advisors of former President Donald Trump for fear of “possible threats” against their lives from Iran in revenge for the assassination of top Iranian commander General Qassem Soleimani.

John Bolton and Robert O’Brien were receiving protection for almost one year after they left their posts, the CBS television network reported Tuesday.
The total cost of protection for both individuals was $12,280,324, according to a series of reports by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obtained by CBS. 
The DHS reports do not mention Iran by name, but the CBS report says “Bolton and O’Brien were receiving protection due to possible threats” from Iran.
According to the DHS documents, the protection involves “dedicated special agents, 24 hours a day, covering their homes and offices, as well as domestic and foreign travel.”
Officials like Bolton and O’Brien do not typically receive this level of protection once they leave office, CBS reported.
Bolton received no protection initially after he left the White House. 
According to the documents, he started getting protection in December 2021, after Trump — upon his departure from office — directed the Secret Service to provide protection for O’Brien.
For the period ending September 30, 2021, that cost $1,928,922. The current President Joe Biden later directed the Secret Service to extend both men’s protection, according to the DHS reports.