Former US President and Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that Iran should face complete destruction if it plays a role in any harm towards a U.S. presidential candidate or former president.
“As you know, there have been two assassination attempts on my life that we know of, and they may or may not involve — but possibly do — Iran,” Trump mentioned during a campaign rally in North Carolina, as reported by AFP.
He elaborated, stating that if he were in office, he would notify Iran, the nation perceived as a threat, that any action against a candidate or ex-president would result in catastrophic retaliation against its major cities and the nation as a whole. “If I were the president, I would inform the threatening country, in this case Iran, that if you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens,” he added.
Trump asserted that he and the United States have faced “direct threats from Iran” and emphasized the need to deliver a stern warning to Tehran regarding the grave consequences that would follow any involvement in schemes to harm a U.S. leader or candidate.
“The best way to do it is through the office of the president, that (if) you do any attacks on former presidents or candidates for president, your country gets blown to smithereens, as we say,” stated Trump.
These remarks came a day after Trump’s campaign announced that he had been informed about “real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilize and sow chaos in the United States.”
The campaign also highlighted that “continued and coordinated attacks have heightened in the past few months,” and noted that “law-enforcement officials across all agencies are working to ensure President Trump is protected and the election is free from interference.”
Later, Trump accused Iran of issuing “big threats” against him, stating on his Truth Social platform, “Big threats on my life by Iran. The entire U.S. Military is watching and waiting. Moves were already made by Iran that didn’t work out, but they will try again. Not a good situation for anyone.”
He continued, “I am surrounded by more men, guns, and weapons than I have ever seen before. Thank you to Congress for unanimously approving far more money to Secret Service – Zero ‘NO’ Votes, strictly bipartisan. Nice to see Republicans and Democrats get together on something. An attack on a former President is a Death Wish for the attacker!”
In July, U.S. news outlets reported that the Secret Service had enhanced security for Trump after discovering an Iranian plot to assassinate him, although this was not connected to a prior attempt on his life during a rally in Pennsylvania.
Shortly after, Trump stated on his Truth Social platform, “If they do ‘assassinate President Trump,’ which is always a possibility, I hope that America obliterates Iran, wipes it off the face of the Earth – If that does not happen, American Leaders will be considered ‘gutless’ cowards!”
Iran, which has denied any intentions to assassinate Trump, previously vowed retaliation against him for the 2020 drone strike in Baghdad that killed Qassem Soleimani, a top commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
In 2020, Iran issued an arrest warrant for Trump and sought Interpol’s assistance in his detention due to Soleimani’s killing.
However, Interpol quickly declined the request, asserting that its protocols for notices prevent involvement in “any intervention or activities of a ‘political’ nature.”
In 2022, an animated video posted on the website of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei portrayed Trump’s assassination.
{Matzav.com}