Trump’s Threat to “Wipe Iran Off the Face of the Earth

Former United States President Donald Trump has issued an unusually stark warning to Iran, declaring that the country would be “wiped off the face of the Earth” if threats against his life were carried out. Speaking in a televised interview, Trump framed the remarks as a deterrent, saying he had already authorised a course of action should any harm come to him.

In an appearance on Katie Pavlich Tonight with NewsNation journalist Katie Pavlich on Tuesday, Trump said Iranian leaders “should not do that”, referring to alleged assassination threats. He added that he had given explicit instructions in advance: if anything were to happen to him, the response would be overwhelming and decisive. According to Trump, the intention of such instructions was to ensure that no ambiguity existed regarding consequences.

Trump further revealed that during the 2024 presidential election campaign he had been briefed by intelligence officials from the Biden administration about what were described as potential threats emanating from Iran. He said that then Attorney General Merrick Garland had indicated the alleged plot might be linked to Tehran’s desire for retaliation following the killing of General Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s most senior military commander, who was assassinated in a US operation in January 2020 during Trump’s first term in office.

Reflecting on those briefings, Trump criticised President Joe Biden for not addressing the matter publicly. He argued that the safety of former and serving presidents should transcend political rivalry, insisting that leaders ought to protect one another in the face of foreign threats. Reiterating his position, Trump stated that any attempt on his life would result in Iran being removed “from the map entirely”.

The former president has previously made similar comments, asserting that an Iranian assassination attempt would provoke the complete destruction of the country. He repeated these remarks shortly after taking office and signing an executive order aimed at restoring a policy of maximum pressure on Iran while keeping diplomatic channels formally open.

Beyond personal threats, Trump also raised the prospect of military action in response to Iran’s domestic situation. He warned that the United States could intervene militarily over reports that more than 3,300 people had been killed during prolonged anti-government protests and clashes with security forces. Trump said that the execution of protesters would cross a red line, although he noted he had recently been informed that such killings had, for the time being, ceased.

Iran’s leadership has rejected Washington’s narrative. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the United States of plotting to overthrow Iran’s government. In a series of posts on the social media platform X, Khamenei claimed that America sought to “devour” Iran. While insisting that Iran does not wish to be driven into war, he warned that neither domestic offenders nor what he described as “international criminals” would be spared.

Key Developments at a Glance

The exchange underscores the continued volatility of US–Iran relations, with rhetoric on both sides reflecting deep mistrust and the persistent risk of escalation.