United States President Donald Trump has responded to reports of an alleged fresh Iranian plot to eliminate him, warning that the U.S would unleash overwhelming military force if such an attempt were carried out.
“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!,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“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,” he said.
The US president issued the warning after reports claimed that Israel had shared intelligence with Washington alleging that Iran recently developed a fresh plan to target him amid renewed tensions surrounding a fragile ceasefire between the two countries.
According to CNN, which cited two sources familiar with the matter, one source said the intelligence was passed to US officials this week, while another disclosed that American intelligence agencies had in recent weeks received repeated indications of possible threats against Trump. The Israeli information was, however, said to involve a more specific alleged assassination plot.
The report added that some US officials believe the intelligence shared by Israel could also be intended to influence Trump’s consideration of whether Washington should intensify military action against Iran.
Although the exact nature of the alleged plot remains unclear, two sources told CNN that US authorities had not independently confirmed the intelligence and were not already tracking the reported threat before Israel brought it to their attention.
US officials have for years maintained that Iran could seek retaliation against Trump over the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
Asked about the Israeli intelligence, which The Wall Street Journal first reported, the White House pointed to Trump’s previous comments on threats allegedly coming from Iran.
“They want to take out the US leader — me,” Trump told reporters Wednesday.
“I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn’t last very long.
” These are evil, sick people. And we have to root out that cancer. That cancer. You know what you do? You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.”