Trump says he's given orders for Iran to be 'obliterated' if it assassinates him

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump issued a stark warning Tuesday, saying he has left instructions to "obliterate" Iran if it attempts to assassinate him.

"If they did that, they would be obliterated," Trump said while signing an executive order focused on increasing pressure on Tehran. "I’ve left instructions—if they do it, they get obliterated. There won’t be anything left."

His comments come amid long-standing concerns from U.S. officials about Iranian threats against Trump and other former members of his administration.

Tracking Iran's threats against Trump

What we know:

Federal authorities have monitored threats from Iran against Trump and former high-ranking officials for years. Tensions between the former president and Tehran escalated after Trump ordered the 2020 airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general and leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.

Last year, the Justice Department revealed an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump before the 2024 presidential election. Prosecutors charged Farhad Shakeri, 51, who they say was acting on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Officials say Shakeri was ordered in September 2023 to surveil Trump and create a plan to kill him within seven days. He remains at large in Iran.

Before a July campaign rally where Trump was shot in the ear, U.S. officials heightened security due to concerns about a possible Iranian threat. However, authorities later said they found no direct connection between Iran and that assassination attempt.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear what specific intelligence, if any, led to Trump’s latest warning. While the U.S. has tracked Iranian threats for years, officials have not confirmed any immediate plans for an assassination attempt.

Then-Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. (Photo by REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images)

Additionally, it's uncertain what actions the U.S. government would take if an attack occurred. While Trump said he left "instructions," any retaliatory military action would fall under the authority of Vice President JD Vance, who would assume the presidency if Trump were killed. 

What Trump has said before about Iran

The backstory:

Trump has long taken a hardline stance against Iran, increasing economic sanctions and authorizing military action against Iranian forces during his first term. He has frequently cited threats against him and his former advisers as justification for his administration’s aggressive policies toward Tehran.

Earlier this year, Trump revoked U.S. government security protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, ex-national security adviser John Bolton, and former Iran envoy Brian Hook. The three men had been under round-the-clock security due to documented threats from Iran.

What's next:

Despite Trump’s warning, there is no official confirmation of any immediate Iranian plot against him. The Biden administration has continued monitoring potential security risks posed by Iran, but it has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest comments.

Iran has repeatedly dismissed allegations that it is plotting assassinations of former U.S. officials. After the Justice Department unveiled charges against Shakeri, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman called the claims a fabricated plot designed to escalate tensions.

U.S. officials say they will continue investigating any credible threats, while Trump remains under Secret Service protection.