US President Donald Trump said Tuesday the United States would 'wipe out' Iran if the country were to assassinate him, issuing one of his most explicit threats yet against Tehran as tensions between the two countries intensify.
“I have very firm instructions, anything happens, they’re going to wipe them off the face of this earth,” Trump said in an interview on NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich Tonight, according to the Associated Press.
Trump added that he had previously directed advisers to obliterate Iran if it were found to be behind any attempt on his life.
Warnings exchanged amid unrest
The remarks come as Iran faces sustained unrest over its deteriorating economy and a violent crackdown on protests that began late last year. Washington and Tehran have traded sharp statements over Iran’s leadership and the handling of demonstrations.
Earlier, Iranian officials cautioned Trump against targeting the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled Iran for nearly four decades.
“Trump knows that if any hand of aggression is extended toward our leader, we not only cut that hand but also we will set fire to their world,” General Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
Criticism of Iran’s leadership
The exchange follows Trump’s recent interview with Politico, in which he criticised Khamenei, calling him “a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people,” and said “it’s time to look for new leadership in Iran.”
Trump has said he has drawn two red lines for Iran: the killing of peaceful protesters and the conduct of mass executions following the demonstrations.
Protest toll and arrests
The scale of the unrest has been significant. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based group, said at least 4,519 people have been killed in the protests, though there has been no official confirmation of the figure.
Iranian authorities have acknowledged thousands of deaths. Khamenei said over the weekend that “several thousand” people had been killed and blamed the United States for fomenting the unrest.
More than 26,300 people have been arrested, according to the same human rights group, prompting concerns among international observers that some detainees could face execution. Iran is already among the world’s leading executioners.
Military movements draw attention
US military activity has also come under scrutiny as tensions simmer. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, previously operating in the South China Sea, was seen transiting toward the Indian Ocean with three destroyers.
While US Navy officials declined to confirm that the strike group is headed for the Middle East, its trajectory suggests it could reach the region within days, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile standoff.
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