US President Donald Trump has claimed that he has left instructions for the United States to launch an unprecedented military strike on Iran if he is assassinated by Tehran. Speaking in an interview with the New York Post, Trump said Iran has considered him its “number one target” for years and warned that any successful attack on him would trigger a massive military response.
Trump said he had not received any fresh intelligence about a new assassination plot but insisted that the threat against him has existed for a long time.
“I’ve been on their list for a long time,” Trump said. He added that if anything happened to him, the US should “literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before.”
His remarks came after reports suggested that Israel had shared intelligence about an alleged Iranian plot targeting the US President. However, Trump dismissed those reports, saying there was no new information.
“No, no. Israel came up with nothing,” he said, adding that he has been Iran’s top target for years. In a lighter moment, Trump joked, “I hope you’ll miss me.”
Why Does Trump Say Iran Wants to Kill Him?
Trump repeated similar comments he made earlier this week after the NATO summit, where he claimed he remained Iran’s “number one target.” He also defended his administration’s military action against Tehran and said Iran should never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
According to reports, Iran has openly sought revenge against Trump since 2020, when he authorised the US drone strike that killed top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad. US authorities have also revealed multiple alleged Iranian-linked assassination plots against Trump in recent years.
Trump also survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler in July 2024, when a bullet grazed his ear.
What Did Trump Say About US-Iran Talks?
In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran had requested to continue talks with the United States. However, he claimed Washington had made it clear that the ceasefire between the two countries was over.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue talks. We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the ceasefire is OVER!” Trump wrote.
First published on: Jul 11, 2026 06:52 AM IST
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About the Author
Shivam Verma
Shivam Verma is a Chief-Sub-Editor at News24. A postgraduate diploma holder in Integrated Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Shivam focuses on international affairs, diplomacy, defence, and politics. Beyond the newsroom, he is passionate about football, both playing and watching, and enjoys travelling to explore new places and cuisines.
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