Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that the country would be “obliterated” if it attempted to assassinate him
On February 4, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that the country would be “obliterated” if it attempted to assassinate him. During an executive order signing aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran, Trump declared, “If they did that, they would be obliterated. I’ve left instructions—if they do it, they get obliterated. There won’t be anything left”. This statement reflects ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, particularly following Trump’s previous actions, such as the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, which has been cited as a catalyst for Iranian hostility towards Trump and other U.S. officials.
Trump’s comments come amidst heightened security concerns regarding alleged Iranian plots against him. The U.S. Justice Department has previously revealed an alleged assassination plot involving an Iranian operative named Farhad Shakeri, who was accused of surveilling Trump with intentions to kill him before the 2024 presidential election. Despite these threats, Iranian officials have denied any involvement in assassination plans against Trump, labeling such claims as fabrications designed to escalate tensions.
In his recent remarks, Trump criticized current President Joe Biden for not taking a firmer stance against Iran and reiterated his belief that if he were to be harmed, the U.S. should respond decisively. The implications of Trump’s warning suggest a willingness to escalate military responses if he perceives a direct threat to his life from Iran.
Trump’s statements highlight the precarious nature of U.S.-Iran relations and the potential for conflict stemming from personal threats against political figures.
President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that the country would be “obliterated” if it attempted to assassinate him. This declaration was made during a signing of an executive order aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran, where he emphasized that he had left specific instructions for his advisers regarding any assassination attempt. Trump asserted, “If they did that, they would be obliterated… there won’t be anything left”.
This warning comes in the context of ongoing concerns about Iranian threats against Trump and other former officials. In November 2024, the Justice Department revealed that it had thwarted a plot allegedly orchestrated by Iranian officials to kill Trump before the presidential election. The plot involved a man named Farhad Shakeri, who was reportedly instructed to surveil and ultimately assassinate Trump. Shakeri remains at large in Iran, and U.S. officials have been monitoring threats from Iran for years, particularly following Trump’s authorization of the 2020 airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani, a high-ranking Iranian general.
Trump’s comments reflect his long-standing hardline stance against Iran, which includes reinstating sanctions and taking military action during his presidency. Despite his warnings, there is currently no confirmed immediate threat from Iran regarding an assassination attempt.
