US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that the United States has pre-authorised an overwhelming military response against Iran if Tehran attempts to assassinate him, saying "1,000 missiles are locked and loaded" and aimed at the country.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said he had already issued orders authorising a US military strike on Iran if Tehran acted on what he described as a longstanding threat against him.
"One thousand missiles are locked and loaded and aimed at Iran, should it act on its threat to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate, a sitting President of the United States, in this case me," Trump wrote.
He added that “thousands more” missiles would immediately follow any initial response and asserted that the US military had already received the necessary instructions and was prepared to execute them.
"Orders have already been given, and the US 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," Trump said.
The remarks echoed comments he made in an interview with the New York Post, where he said he had left standing instructions for an unprecedented military response if he were assassinated.
"I've been on their list for a long time. That's what we're dealing with," Trump told the newspaper. "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 there was no fresh intelligence indicating an imminent assassination plot, dismissing reports that Israel had uncovered new information about an alleged Iranian plan targeting him.
"No, no. Israel came up with nothing. I've been No. 1 on Iran's kill list for a long time, and it's the way life is," he said.
Earlier this week, Trump also described himself as Iran's "number one target" while reiterating that Tehran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. He said he did not expect any future confrontation with Iran to turn into a prolonged conflict.
Iran has repeatedly vowed revenge for the 2020 US drone strike ordered by Trump that killed top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad. US authorities have since disclosed multiple alleged Iran-linked assassination plots targeting Trump, although Tehran has denied involvement.
Meanwhile, Trump said Iran had sought to resume talks with the United States but claimed Washington had informed Tehran that the ceasefire was over.
In another Truth Social post, Trump wrote, "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 ceasefire is over."
