US President Donald Trump has warned that any attempt by Iran to assassinate him would trigger an overwhelming American military response, escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran despite recent diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing the risk of a wider regional conflict.
Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump said he believed he remained a target of Iran’s leadership and claimed contingency plans were already in place should Tehran act on any alleged threat against him.
“They want to take out the US leader — me,” Trump told reporters. “I’m on every list. I saw this morning, I’m on every single one of their lists.”
The president added that thousands of missiles were “locked and loaded” and warned that any attack would result in Iran being “completely decimated”, claiming military orders had already been prepared for such a scenario.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “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 U.S. 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! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump’s remarks came amid renewed scrutiny of alleged Iranian threats against senior US officials. According to the Wall Street Journal, Israel recently shared intelligence with Washington that it said pointed to an alleged Iranian plan targeting the US president. Neither US nor Iranian officials have publicly released evidence supporting the claim, and Tehran has consistently denied accusations that it has sought to assassinate American leaders.
The comments also followed public demonstrations in Iran during which some participants chanted anti-US slogans and displayed banners calling for Trump’s death, highlighting the continued hostility between the two countries despite intermittent diplomatic engagement.
Until recently, Washington and Tehran had been pursuing negotiations aimed at reducing regional tensions. Discussions had focused on restoring the security of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically significant energy chokepoints, and exploring a framework to address Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, Trump suggested those efforts had effectively collapsed.
“The ceasefire is over,” he told reporters before adding that he no longer wished to negotiate with the Iranian government.
The remarks mark a sharp deterioration in rhetoric at a time when the Middle East remains on edge following months of military confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Although large-scale hostilities have subsided, security analysts warn that the risk of miscalculation remains elevated, particularly as both Washington and Tehran continue to exchange threats while maintaining substantial military deployments across the region.
Energy markets are also closely monitoring developments. Any renewed conflict involving Iran could threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor through which roughly a fifth of global oil consumption passes. Even the prospect of disruption has historically been sufficient to drive volatility in crude prices and raise concerns over global energy supplies.
For investors, Trump’s latest warning underscores the fragile state of regional security. While diplomatic channels have not been entirely closed, the increasingly confrontational rhetoric from both sides illustrates how quickly efforts to stabilise relations could unravel if either side perceives a direct threat to its leadership or national security.
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