Former U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran of total destruction if Tehran attempts to assassinate him, revealing that he has left specific instructions for U.S. officials to retaliate with overwhelming force.
“I’ve left instructions if they do it, they get obliterated. There won’t be anything left,” Trump said on Tuesday while signing an executive order ramping up economic sanctions on Iran.
His comments come amid renewed tensions following reports of an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate him, which the U.S. Justice Department claimed was thwarted last year. Officials had accused Iranian operatives of directing Farhad Shakeri, 51, to monitor and target Trump. Shakeri remains at large in Iran.
While reiterating his opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump signaled openness to diplomacy but warned of dire consequences if Tehran pursued nuclear weapons.
“They cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if I think that they will have a nuclear weapon … I think that’s going to be very unfortunate for them,” he said.
His latest executive order instructs the Treasury Department to enforce maximum economic pressure on Iran, particularly targeting oil exports. Trump emphasized his administration’s success in reducing Iran’s oil revenues to near zero, accusing President Joe Biden of allowing Tehran to regain economic strength.
“Iran was in big trouble when I left. They were broke. They didn’t have money for Hamas or Hezbollah. You had no problem. October 7th could have never happened,” Trump said, referring to the deadly Hamas attack on Israel.
Alongside Iran sanctions, Trump also signed executive orders withdrawing the U.S. from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and cutting funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
These moves mark a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, aligning with Trump’s longstanding criticism of international organizations he claims are biased against American interests and its allies.
Trump’s remarks and policy shifts come as he continues to shape his foreign policy stance ahead of the 2024 presidential election, in which he is expected to be a leading candidate.
