US President Donald Trump has issued a stern response to threats from Iran. In recent comments, he stated that he has left clear instructions: in the event of an assassination attempt on his life, the country will strike Tehran with 'unprecedented force'.
'Target Number One'
Trump emphasized that his name has long been on the list of priority targets for Iranian intelligence services. 'I have been on their list for a long time. That is what we are dealing with. The only thing I have left as instructions is – if anything happens, literally bomb them to levels they have never seen before,' the press office quoted the president.
When asked about the existence of a new assassination plan, Trump answered in the negative, noting that Tehran's desire for his death has lasted for years. 'Israel has found nothing new. I have long been target number one,' he added.
History of the conflict
Open hostility from Iran towards the American leader began back in 2020, following the killing of Qasem Soleimani, a general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, ordered by Trump. Since then, rhetoric in Tehran has not changed. During the funeral of the slain Supreme Leader of Iran, participants unfurled huge banners calling for Trump's death. One speaker declared: 'Why should we not kill the one who killed my imam and leader? Killing Trump is our duty'.
Escalation and retaliatory strikes
Trump's statements came against the backdrop of a sharp escalation in the situation. The President terminated the ceasefire between the US and Iran after Tehran shelled three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Washington lifted the moratorium on sanctions against Iranian oil and launched nearly 200 strikes on Iranian territory.
At the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump called Iranians 'evil' for the attacks in the strait, despite previous promises to reduce tensions. He also expressed concerns for his own life: 'Now they have new leaders – perhaps they will disappear too, who knows? And you know what? I could disappear too. Because I am their target number one... Because they are scum'.
Strengthening security measures
After the summit, the President changed planes on his way home – the White House confirmed this was done for security reasons. Assassination attempts on the head of state have been occurring with alarming regularity in recent years. Among the latest incidents were the arrest of a group of eight people planning a drone and sniper attack during a UFC show, as well as an incident involving shots fired during a dinner with journalists.
The most resonant remains the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, when a bullet grazed Trump's ear, passing mere centimeters from his head. In February 2026, a court sentenced a man to life in prison for attempting to shoot the president on a golf course in Florida.
