President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran’s leadership late Tuesday, declaring that any attempt to harm him would trigger an “overwhelming retaliatory strike” capable of erasing the country from existence. The remarks directly referenced Iran’s escalating violent rhetoric and its alleged connection to an assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania in 2024.
“I have very firm instructions, anything happens, they’re going to wipe them off the face of this earth,” Trump stated. He emphasized that such retaliation would target the entire nation: “Anything ever happens, the whole country is going to get blown up.” The president further asserted he would “hit them so hard” with an overwhelming response.
Iranian officials countered with a sharp warning. General Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, declared that if aggression were directed against Iran’s leadership, the regime would not only sever the threat but also “set fire to their world.”
The exchange follows Trump’s repeated criticism of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, whom he described as “a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people.” Recent weeks have seen widespread anti-regime demonstrations across Iran, driven by economic collapse and soaring inflation. In response, Khamenei has authorized violent crackdowns on protesters, with reports indicating thousands killed by regime forces.
U.S. military assets are simultaneously repositioning in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, accompanied by three destroyers, is en route to bolster American strike capabilities near the area.
