US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, declaring he has 'left instructions' to launch unprecedented military action if Tehran succeeds in assassinating him. Speaking to the New York Post, Trump emphasized that Iran would be bombed 'at levels they've never seen before' if any attempt on his life is made. 'I've been on their list for a long time. That's what we're dealing with. The only thing is, I've left instructions -- if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they've never seen before,' Trump told the New York Post. Trump denied reports of Israeli intelligence warning him regarding Iran's alleged plot to assassinate the US President, stating 'No, no. Israel came up with nothing'. These threats come amid ongoing tensions following the recent funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was laid to rest at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on Friday morning, 131 days after being killed in US-Israel joint strikes.
Speaking on the phone to Fox News on Monday, Trump made dramatic claims about Iran's military capabilities, stating 'Khomeini is gone. The son is 90% gone' in reference to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. 'They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, it's all gone. Their anti-aircraft is gone. Their leaders have all been killed, their best leaders have been killed. They're gone,' Trump declared. Mojtaba Khamenei is reported to be recovering from injuries sustained in an airstrike and did not attend his father's funeral ceremonies held in Iran and Iraq earlier this month. Trump also took aim at The New York Times, saying the newspaper had claimed Iran was 'doing better today', and cited Iranian inflation running at 350%, up from around 5% six months ago.
According to The Wall Street Journal and CNN, Israel has shared fresh intelligence with the United States indicating that Iran had developed a new plot to assassinate US President Donald Trump. The intelligence marks an escalation in Iran's long-standing threats against Trump, who has reportedly been repeatedly targeted in retaliation for the January 2020 US strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. Trump has publicly acknowledged that he remains a target for Iran, saying he is at the top of Tehran's 'death list', as reported by PTI. Trump's security precautions were stepped up during his visit to Turkey this week amid concerns over possible threats, with the president switching aircraft for his return journey to the US, transferring from the usual Air Force One to another presidential aircraft as a security precaution. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had travelled with Trump, also cancelled a planned visit to Israel.
Despite Trump's military threats, Washington has agreed to continue talks with Iran following Tehran's request, according to Truth Social posts. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.' We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!'' Trump stated on Truth Social. Qatari negotiators are currently traveling to Iran in an effort to ease tensions and resume US-Iran talks, as reported by Business Standard. The diplomatic outreach comes as Trump has declared the ceasefire with Iran was 'over' on Wednesday, with the escalation continuing as the US ramps up its military campaign against Iran with strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and the US exchanged attacks over the past two days amid an escalation following Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran launched a series of strikes Thursday on US military infrastructure in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan in retaliation for a second day of overnight US attacks.
The intelligence surfaced amid reported friction between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over how to proceed following last month's conflict with Iran. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Netanyahu has pushed for continued military pressure on Tehran, while Trump has sought to preserve a fragile ceasefire following US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Despite recent tensions over Iran, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly spoke by phone Thursday and agreed to continue coordination, according to The Wall Street Journal. In the past few months, Trump admitted to lashing out at how Netanyahu handled the conflict amid negotiations. The coordination agreement comes as both leaders face mounting pressure from Iran's military response to US actions. The latest intelligence has indicated renewed concern over the security surrounding the US president, although neither the White House nor Iranian officials have publicly commented on the reported warning, as reported by PTI.
