A former U.S. president issues a stark warning amid ongoing tensions with Iran.
According to Daily Mail Online, Donald Trump has signed an order detailing instructions to "obliterate" Iran if the Middle Eastern nation attempts to assassinate him, marking an escalation in the already strained relationship between the two countries.
Trump made these remarks during an Oval Office signing ceremony on Tuesday, where he unveiled a "maximum pressure" campaign aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The former president expressed mixed feelings about signing the order but emphasized its necessity given the current geopolitical climate and direct threats against him from Iranian leaders.
Trump signs order amid assassination threats from Iran
The former president's directive comes in response to ongoing threats from Iranian leaders following the U.S. assassination of Quds force leader Qasem Soleimani in January 2020. Trump pulled the United States out of the Obama-era Iranian nuclear deal before authorizing Soleimani's killing at Baghdad airport, actions that have made him and other U.S. officials targets of Iranian assassination threats.
Trump criticized President Joe Biden's handling of Iranian threats, suggesting his successor lacked decisiveness in addressing potential dangers. The Republican nominee outlined his preferred approach to dealing with such threats from foreign nations, emphasizing the need for strong deterrence.
Trump stated his position firmly, as he told Iranian leaders:
If they did that, they would be obliterated. I have left instructions. If they do it, they get obliterated, there won't be anything left.
Recent security changes affect former officials under threat
In a related development, Trump recently removed security details from former officials who had been targeted by Iran. Former National Security Advisor John Bolton lost his Secret Service protection, while former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's State Department security detail was terminated.
Both Bolton and Pompeo have faced threats from Iran, with Bolton becoming a Trump critic after leaving the administration. He published a tell-all book about his experience before the 2020 election, which Trump lost.
Pompeo, despite choosing not to run against Trump in the 2024 GOP primary, has faced criticism from Trump allies for perceived insufficient loyalty to the former president.
Biden administration takes preventive measures against threats
The Biden administration has taken steps to address potential Iranian threats against Trump. National Security Council officials warned Iran weeks before the 2024 election that any attempt on Trump's life would be considered an act of war.
Trump survived an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally in July, and another attempt was thwarted when a suspect was arrested at his West Palm Beach golf club in September. Two years earlier, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, had circulated an animated video depicting a drone strike on Trump at his golf course.
Despite the tensions, Trump expressed openness to diplomatic solutions, stating he would meet with Iranian leaders if given the opportunity.
Critical developments shape US-Iran relations
The situation between Trump and Iran represents a significant escalation in already tense U.S.-Iran relations. Trump's recent order and explicit threats of retaliation come in response to persistent assassination threats from Iranian leadership following the 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani.
The former president's actions, including signing a new "maximum pressure" directive and removing security details from former officials, demonstrate the complex interplay between personal security concerns and broader geopolitical strategy. As both nations maintain their positions, the international community watches closely for any developments that could further destabilize the delicate balance between the United States and Iran.
