Amid rapidly escalating tensions between the US and Iran, US President Donald Trump said he left instructions to “bomb” Iran massively if Tehran manages to kill him.
In an interview with New York Post On Friday, Trump said Iran had considered him a target for years and warned of unprecedented retaliation if any plot against him were successful.
“I’ve been on their list for a long time. This is what we’re dealing with,” Trump said. “The only thing is, I’ve left instructions… if anything happens, for him just bomb them at levels they’ve never seen before.”
Trump was responding to reports that Israeli intelligence had warned Washington of a possible Iranian threat against him. He, however, rejected the suggestions of a young woman assassination plot.
Follow our LIVE coverage here about the escalation of tensions between Iran and the US
“No, no. Israel came up with nothing. No, no,” he said. “I’ve been No. 1 (on Iran’s kill list) for a long time, and that’s the way life is, you know.”
“I hope you will miss me,” he added.
Israeli intelligence shared with the United States did not point to a specific or imminent assassination plot, but instead related to information indicating that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Ahmad Vahidi continued to seek Trump’s assassination. CNN reported.
Iran has repeatedly vowed to retaliate against Trump since he ordered the January 2020 drone strike that killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad airport.
Trump’s latest remarks come days after thousands gathered in Tehran for his funeral Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran vows to ‘kill Trump’
During his funeral procession, crowds chanted “Death to America”, “Death to Israel” and “Kill Trump”.
Protesters also displayed banners and posters calling for the assassination of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump canceled the ceasefire
Earlier this week, Trump declared that the US-Iran ceasefire and memorandum of understanding between the two countries had “ended” after renewed attacks on Strait of Hormuz and subsequent US military actions.
The United States later carried out attacks on more than 80 Iranian targets, while Iran responded with attacks on American positions in the Gulf. Later, addressing media reporters, Trump called Iranian negotiators “scum” and said he no longer had faith in diplomacy.
“I don’t like them at all. And frankly, I think we’ve wasted a lot of time with them, I think we just have to go about our business,” Trump said in his first speech since the US strikes. “They are wild, violent people… as far as I’m concerned, it’s over,” he added.
While saying that US representatives could continue to engage with Tehran, Trump cast doubt on the prospects for any progress. “They can talk, but I think they are wasting their time,” he said.
Speaking earlier this week at niton At the summit in Ankara, Trump reiterated that he believed Iran continues to see him as its primary target. “They had leaders, they’re gone. Then they had another set of leaders, they’re gone. Now they have another set of leaders — they might be gone, who knows?” Trump said.
“And you know what? I might as well have run away. Because I’m their No. 1 target — it’s everywhere.”
The White House also acknowledged that Trump changed planes on his way back from the NATO summit as a security precaution after reports of threats against him.
