US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, saying he has already left instructions for an unprecedented military response if Tehran succeeds in assassinating him.
Speaking in an interview, Trump said Iran has targeted him for years, largely because of the 2020 US drone strike that killed top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani. While he said there is no fresh intelligence pointing to an imminent assassination plot, Trump claimed the threat against him has remained constant.
"If they do that, they get bombed at levels that they've never seen before," Trump said, adding that he has already left instructions outlining how the United States should respond if such an attack were to take place.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following months of military escalation and renewed sanctions. Trump has repeatedly accused Iran of sponsoring threats against US interests and warned that any attack on him or American personnel would trigger a forceful military response.
Trump also dismissed reports suggesting there is new intelligence about an imminent Iranian assassination attempt, saying the threat has existed "for a long time." However, he reiterated that the United States is prepared to respond with overwhelming force if Iran acts against him.
The latest comments further underscore the deepening strain in US-Iran relations, with both sides exchanging strong rhetoric as diplomatic efforts remain uncertain.
