President Donald Trump has made a bold announcement, stating that he has instructed his advisers to obliterate Iran if the nation attempts to assassinate him. “If they did that, they would be obliterated,” Trump emphasized during a press briefing while signing an executive order to impose maximum pressure on Tehran.

This declaration comes amid ongoing concerns regarding Iranian threats against Trump and his administration. U.S. authorities have monitored these threats for years, particularly following Trump's authorization in 2020 for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.

In a chilling context, a previous Iranian threat led to increased security at a Pennsylvania campaign rally where Trump was injured in the ear. However, officials suggested that there was no evidence linking Iran to that incident. The AP reported that in November, the Justice Department thwarted an Iranian scheme to assassinate Trump ahead of the presidential election.

According to the Department, Iranian officials directed an individual named Farhad Shakeri, 51, to surveil and plan Trump’s assassination as early as September. Shakeri remains at large in Iran, creating further complications in U.S.-Iran relations.

As tensions rise, Iranian officials have dismissed the allegations of an assassination plot, claiming that they are fabrications stemming from Israel-linked sources aiming to complicate U.S.-Iran ties. The Iranian foreign ministry's spokesman characterized the claims as an escalation of misinformation.

Shakeri, who is believed to have connections with the Iranian government and a history of criminal activity, told the FBI that a contact within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard tasked him with formulating a concrete plan to assassinate Trump within a week.

Moreover, Trump has recently rescinded security provisions for top former officials, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton, both of whom have faced Iranian threats following their hardline stances during Trump’s administration.

While the geopolitical landscape shifts, Trump's remarks underscore the escalating tensions and the persistent threat of violence looming over U.S.-Iran relations. For further reading, visit SCMP.