Donald Trump has disclosed that he has given explicit instructions to his advisors on how to respond in the event of an Iranian-led assassination attempt against him. The former president, who was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20 at the age of 78, has already stirred controversy with several bold executive actions, including halting federal aid programs, reinstating a directive to construct a national missile defense shield, and withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement.
On February 4, in a candid revelation, Trump asserted that a comprehensive plan is already in place to retaliate against Iran with devastating force should they attempt to assassinate him. His remarks follow reports from the Justice Department stating that an Iranian assassination plot against him had been thwarted in late 2024.
Alleged Assassination Plot and Iranian Denials
The U.S. Justice Department had previously uncovered an intricate murder-for-hire conspiracy targeting Trump, allegedly orchestrated by 51-year-old Farhad Shakeri, a figure still believed to be residing in Iran. According to reports, intelligence agencies were alerted to the plot when Shakeri was directed by a high-ranking official within Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to abandon prior missions and instead eliminate Trump within a strict seven-day timeframe. However, as per FBI records, Shakeri purportedly communicated that organizing such a mission within the limited period was not feasible, leading to an indefinite postponement until after the election results were finalized.
Despite these revelations, Iranian officials have vehemently denied any involvement in such a plot. Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. He further criticized such claims as exacerbating already strained diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran, asserting that the accusations resembled previous instances where unsubstantiated allegations against Iran had later been disproven.
Trump’s Hardline Stance on Iran and Nuclear Policy
Reaffirming his commitment to stringent policies on Iran, Trump recently reinforced his ‘maximum pressure’ approach by signing an executive memorandum aimed at intensifying economic and political measures against Tehran. He stated that Iran was alarmingly close to acquiring a nuclear weapon, a scenario he was unwilling to tolerate.
“For me, it’s very straightforward—under no circumstances can Iran obtain nuclear weaponry,” Trump declared while drafting the memorandum. However, despite his tough rhetoric, he extended an olive branch, expressing willingness to engage in discussions with Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, to avoid a potentially catastrophic standoff.
Trump’s Stern Warning: ‘Total Obliteration’ for Iran
In a subsequent exchange with journalists, Trump issued a stark warning, stating that should Iran successfully execute an assassination against him, it would face catastrophic consequences.
“That would be an unforgivable act—not just against me personally but against the stability of the world. If Iran carried out such an attack, they would be completely obliterated,” he asserted. “I have left very clear instructions—if they do it, there will be nothing left. They should not even consider attempting it.”
Trump’s declaration was not limited to Iran alone. He further remarked that any nation daring to assassinate a U.S. leader would face dire consequences, emphasizing that previous administrations had not taken a sufficiently strong stance against such threats.
Criticism of Former President Joe Biden
In characteristic fashion, Trump took a moment to criticize his predecessor, Joe Biden, accusing him of lacking the resolve to address such grave threats.
“This is something Biden should have stated outright. But he never did. I can’t say why—perhaps a lack of foresight? Perhaps something else?” Trump speculated. “If an attempt is made on the life of a national leader, or any key figure in government, the response should be swift and overwhelming. Any country responsible should be completely destroyed.”
While Trump affirmed that his signed memorandum carried immense weight, he also conveyed his hope that its provisions would never need to be enacted. However, should an assassination take place, the chain of command would shift to Vice President JD Vance, who would assume the presidency.
Despite Trump’s explicit directives, the Associated Press has reported that Vance would not be legally obligated to implement any retaliatory measures ordered by his predecessor, leaving open the question of how such a scenario would unfold should it ever come to pass.