'1,000 missiles locked & loaded': Trump warns Iran, claims 'orders given' if Tehran tries to assassinate him
Donald Trump on Saturday warned Iran of a massive military response, saying "1,000 missiles are locked and loaded" and aimed at Tehran if it carried out any attempt to assassinate him, amid reports of an alleged new plot against the "sitting US president."In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat, pronounced in many corners of the Globe, to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate, the sitting President of the United States of America, in this case, ME!""Orders have already been given, and the US military is ready, willing, and able, for a one year period of time, subject to extension, to completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran - praise be to Allah!" he added.Trump's warning comes after reports that chants calling for his assassination were heard during the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, highlighting the growing tensions in the Middle East as a fragile interim ceasefire continues to come under strain, the Associated Press reported.The latest escalation also comes at a time after reports that Israel shared fresh intelligence with the United States alleging Iran had developed a new plan to assassinate Trump.According to The Wall Street Journal, Israel passed the intelligence to US officials earlier this week.
CNN, citing two sources familiar with the matter, reported that the warning referred to a specific alleged plot, though US intelligence agencies have not independently verified the information.Some US officials told CNN they believe the Israeli intelligence may also be part of a broader effort to influence Trump's decision on whether to intensify military action against Iran.According to the report, US intelligence has been monitoring threats against Trump in recent weeks, but officials described the latest Israeli warning as significant because it pointed to a specific alleged plan.However, both a US official and an Israeli source told CNN that the intelligence reflected the intentions of hardliners within Iran's leadership rather than evidence of a fully operational assassination plot.The report added that Iran's newly appointed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Ahmad Vahidi was among those advocating targeting Trump.Trump's remarks also followed Washington's demand that Iran publicly guarantee safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz after a series of attacks on merchant ships earlier this week.The United States has insisted that Tehran declare the strategic waterway open to international shipping.
Iran, however, has maintained that the Strait of Hormuz falls under its control and has proposed charging ships passing through it, challenging long-standing international norms.The latest standoff follows several days of US airstrikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure after Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran retaliated by launching strikes targeting Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar.Catch the latest world news and top headlines. Download the TOI App.