'Bomb them': Trump says he left instructions for massive military retaliation if Iran assassinates him

In an interview with the New York Post, Trump said he had already left clear directions for a large-scale retaliatory strike if anything happened to him.

"I've been on their list for a long time. That's what we're dealing with... The only thing is, I've left instructions, if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they've never seen before," Trump said.

Trump dismisses reports of new assassination plot

Responding to reports that Israel had warned of a fresh Iranian plot targeting him, Trump said there was no new intelligence indicating an imminent threat.

"No, no. Israel came up with nothing. No, no," he said. "I've been No. 1 [on Iran's kill list] for a long time, and it's the way life is, you know."

"I hope you'll miss me," Trump added.

The White House had earlier acknowledged that changes to Trump's travel plans after the NATO Summit were part of security measures to ensure the President's safety.

Iran's 'number one target'

Trump reiterated comments he made earlier this week, saying he believes he remains Iran's primary target following the US drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

Speaking after the NATO Summit, Trump said, "Their leaders are gone. Then they had another set of leaders. They're gone. Now they have another set of leaders. They may be gone, who knows?"

"And you know what? I may be gone too," the US President added. "Because I'm their number one target. It's out all over the place. I'm their number one target."

The Republican leader also said that although he had so far avoided any attack, he did not take that for granted.

"I saw a thing this morning, I'm on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I've been a little bit lucky. But that maybe doesn't last very long," he said.

Trump's latest comments came after he declared that the understanding between Washington and Tehran had effectively ended.

Speaking about negotiations with Iran, Trump criticised Iranian negotiators and questioned the value of continuing discussions.

"I don't like them at all. And frankly, I think we wasted a lot of time with them, I think we should just do our business," he said after the United States carried out strikes on 80 sites in Iran.

"They're vicious, violent people... so far as I'm concerned, it's over," Trump added.

Although Trump said US representatives could continue diplomatic engagement, he expressed scepticism about the prospects for progress.

"They can talk, but I think they're wasting their time," he said.

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Iran had requested further negotiations with the United States but asserted that Washington no longer considered the ceasefire in effect.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.' We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

Anti-Trump slogans raised in Tehran

Trump's remarks also followed reports that crowds attending the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader chanted slogans calling for the deaths of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to reports, posters and graffiti displayed at Tehran's Grand Mosalla prayer complex also called for the assassination of the two leaders.

Trump-Iran longstanding tensions

Trump has repeatedly claimed that Iran has sought revenge against him since he authorised the January 2020 US drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad.

US authorities have previously disclosed several alleged Iran-linked assassination plots targeting Trump in recent years.

His latest comments come as Washington and Tehran continue efforts to find a diplomatic path forward amid persistent tensions over security and regional issues.