Donald Trump has warned that Iran would be “obliterated” if he were assassinated, revealing that he has left instructions for such an action to be carried out. Speaking from the Oval Office while signing an order to reimpose maximum pressure on Tehran, Trump stated, “If they did that, they would be obliterated. That would be the end.”
Trump claimed that Iran has targeted him and former members of his administration as retaliation for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Despite this, he has also removed security details protecting former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and ex-national security adviser John Bolton, both of whom were reportedly on Iran’s hit list.
The former president criticized Joe Biden for not taking a stronger stance against Iran, saying, “Biden should have said that, but he never did. I don’t know why. Lack of intelligence, perhaps.” He also pointed out that Iran’s economy has been benefiting from sanctions evasion, with much of its oil being exported to China.
Trump’s remarks come as tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high, particularly after reports that Iran-backed hackers attempted to interfere in the 2024 U.S. election. The renewed sanctions are meant to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and financial influence, but Trump’s latest comments have further escalated the rhetoric between the two nations.
