US President Donald Trump has issued a blunt warning to Iran, saying the country would face devastating consequences if any attempt was made on his life, following renewed threats broadcast on Iranian state television.
Speaking during a sit-down interview with NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich on Tuesday evening, Mr Trump said the United States had already communicated its position to Tehran after Iranian media aired footage referencing a 2024 assassination attempt against him.
Iranian state television recently replayed images from a July 13, 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Mr Trump narrowly survived a gun attack.
Iranian state television recently replayed images from a July 13, 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Mr Trump narrowly survived a gun attack.
The footage was accompanied by a caption reading, “This time it won’t miss,” a message US officials have interpreted as a direct threat.
Asked how he would respond if Iran attempted to act on such threats, Mr Trump said any harm to him would trigger overwhelming retaliation.
“They shouldn’t be doing it,” the president said.
“But I’ve left very firm instructions. If anything ever happens, the consequences would be catastrophic for them.”
The White House later clarified that Mr Trump was emphasising deterrence rather than announcing a specific military plan.
The White House later clarified that Mr Trump was emphasising deterrence rather than announcing a specific military plan.
However, the remarks immediately drew international attention due to their unusually direct nature.
Mr Trump also used the interview to criticise his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, accusing him of failing to respond decisively to Iranian threats against US officials.
“When they made these threats, we kept asking why nothing was being said,” Mr Trump said. “A president has to defend current and former leaders, and frankly, that didn’t happen.”
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have remained high since January 2020, when a US drone strike ordered by Mr Trump killed Qasem Soleimani, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Mr Trump also used the interview to criticise his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, accusing him of failing to respond decisively to Iranian threats against US officials.
“When they made these threats, we kept asking why nothing was being said,” Mr Trump said. “A president has to defend current and former leaders, and frankly, that didn’t happen.”
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have remained high since January 2020, when a US drone strike ordered by Mr Trump killed Qasem Soleimani, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Since then, Iranian authorities have repeatedly vowed revenge, and US intelligence agencies have confirmed ongoing threats against several former Trump administration officials, including former national security adviser John Bolton.
The latest exchange comes amid growing unrest inside Iran. Protests have intensified over the past month due to economic hardship, inflation, and political repression.
The latest exchange comes amid growing unrest inside Iran. Protests have intensified over the past month due to economic hardship, inflation, and political repression.
Human rights groups accuse the Iranian government of violently suppressing demonstrations, with reports of thousands of arrests and mass executions.
Last week, Mr Trump appeared to suggest military action was under serious consideration after Iranian officials reportedly planned a wave of executions targeting protesters.
Last week, Mr Trump appeared to suggest military action was under serious consideration after Iranian officials reportedly planned a wave of executions targeting protesters.
On January 2, he warned that the United States was “locked and loaded” should the killings continue.
However, speaking to reporters on Wednesday during a White House event, Mr Trump said he had been informed that executions had been halted.
“We’ve been told that the killing is stopping,” he said.
However, speaking to reporters on Wednesday during a White House event, Mr Trump said he had been informed that executions had been halted.
“We’ve been told that the killing is stopping,” he said.
“There’s supposedly no plan for mass executions right now. If that turns out not to be true, I would be very upset.”
During a lengthy press conference marking one year since his return to office, Mr Trump claimed US pressure had already influenced Iranian decision-making.
During a lengthy press conference marking one year since his return to office, Mr Trump claimed US pressure had already influenced Iranian decision-making.
He said Tehran had abandoned plans to execute hundreds of detainees after being warned of severe consequences.
“They were talking about hanging hundreds of people,” he said.
“They were talking about hanging hundreds of people,” he said.
“We made it very clear that would be a very bad day for them, and they backed off.”
Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed any change in policy, and independent verification remains difficult due to restrictions on media access within the country.
The president concluded by saying the United States would continue to monitor the situation closely, adding that while diplomacy remained preferable, “all options” remained available if Iran resumed violence against civilians or escalated threats against US leaders.
Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed any change in policy, and independent verification remains difficult due to restrictions on media access within the country.
The president concluded by saying the United States would continue to monitor the situation closely, adding that while diplomacy remained preferable, “all options” remained available if Iran resumed violence against civilians or escalated threats against US leaders.
0 Comments