Iran has issued a provocative threat to US President Donald Trump amid rising tensions, airing an image of him from a 2024 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, accompanied by the warning, "This time it will not miss the target." The message, translated from Persian, was circulated widely online and broadcast on Iranian state-run television, escalating the war of words between Tehran and Washington.
The broadcast comes as Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States could take military action against Iran if the country continues violent crackdowns on protesters amid a worsening economic crisis and public dissatisfaction with its leadership. On Truth Social, Trump accused Iran of routinely killing peaceful demonstrators, writing: "If Iran kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go."
The image used by Iranian media referenced the assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024, when a gunman, Thomas Crooks, fired shots at the stage, grazing Trump's ear. The incident briefly halted Trump's campaign appearances during the presidential elections.
Amid the growing tension, the UK has temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran and withdrawn diplomatic staff, citing security concerns following Iran's violent crackdown on protests and fears of potential US military action. The US also evacuated some personnel from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, its largest Middle East installation.
Despite the threats and unrest, Trump told reporters that the US had received "very important sources" indicating that killings and planned executions in Iran had stopped. "We've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping. It's stopped. It's stopping, and there's no plan for executions," he said. He acknowledged the information was received shortly before speaking and expressed cautious optimism: "I hope that's true. That's a big thing."
When pressed about the possibility of military action, Trump did not rule out any options. "Certainly, I'm not going to give up options," he said, while urging vigilance and caution as the situation unfolds. He also noted reports of clashes between Iranian security forces and protesters, describing gunfire exchanges but stressing that the key development was the halt in executions.
Trump's remarks came during a White House signing ceremony, where he addressed multiple international issues before turning to Iran. The White House did not issue a separate statement on Iran, and no additional officials commented publicly. Trump concluded by emphasizing the need to monitor the situation closely: "We're going to watch. We're going to see what happens."
The developments highlight Iran's escalating defiance and the fragile state of US-Iran relations, set against a backdrop of international scrutiny over Iran's handling of domestic unrest, killings, and planned executions.
(With inputs from IANS)
