US President Trump on Tuesday said that he has directed his advisers to destroy Iran if it attempts to take his life.
“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,” Trump said to reporters while signing an executive order calling for the US government to impose maximum pressure on Tehran.
For years, American authorities have been monitoring Iranian threats targeting Trump and other administration officials. In 2020, Trump authorised the elimination of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.
A credible Iranian threat to Trump’s safety prompted increased security measures before a July campaign rally in Pennsylvania where Trump sustained an ear wound. However, officials indicated that Iran was not believed to be involved in that attack.
In November, the Justice Department revealed they had prevented an Iranian scheme to assassinate Trump prior to the presidential election.
According to the department, Iranian officials instructed Farhad Shakeri, aged 51, in September to conduct surveillance and plan Trump’s assassination.