Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that he has left instructions for an "unprecedented" military response should any assassination attempt against him succeed. Speaking to the New York Post, Trump asserted that Iran has sought his death for years and would face bombing "at levels that they've never seen before" if anything were to happen to him.
Dismissing New Threats
Despite recent reports suggesting that Israel had flagged new intelligence about an alleged Iranian plot targeting him, Trump dismissed these claims. "No, no. Israel came up with nothing. No, no," he told the New York Post. He maintained that he has been Iran's "number one target" for a considerable time, a reality he accepts as "the way life is."
Historical Context and Prior Statements
Trump's latest remarks echo comments he made earlier in the week following a NATO summit, where he also declared himself Iran's top target and defended his administration's past military actions against Tehran. He reiterated his belief that Iran could be plotting against him but insisted he would not be intimidated. Iran has openly sought revenge against Trump since 2020, when he authorized the US drone strike that killed top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad.
Ceasefire Over, No Nuclear Weapons
In a post on Truth Social, Trump also announced that a ceasefire between the United States and Iran had ended, despite Iran requesting to continue talks. He stated that Washington agreed to discussions but made its position unequivocally clear that the ceasefire was over. Trump further emphasized that Iran must not be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons and expressed his expectation that any future conflict with Tehran would be brief, not a prolonged war.
Previous Incidents
US authorities have disclosed multiple alleged Iranian-linked assassination plots targeting Trump in recent years. Additionally, Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler in July 2024, where a bullet reportedly grazed his ear.