Trump warns Iran: ‘1,000 missiles are aimed at you’
US President Donald Trump. Reuters.
A war of words has intensified between the United States and Iran following the collapse of their ceasefire agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that any attempt on his life by Iran would result in the country's complete destruction. Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has declared that avenging the death of his father is a "national demand."
In a statement issued on March 8, following an extended period of national mourning, Khamenei said, "We will certainly avenge the blood of our martyred leader and all those who were martyred in these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers."
Responding to the remarks, Trump posted a strongly worded message on his Truth Social platform, saying, "One thousand missiles are aimed at Iran. If Iran attempts to assassinate the current President of the United States—me—the U.S. military is prepared to completely destroy and wipe out Iran."
The exchange comes after Iranian attacks on Saudi and Qatari oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, followed by two nights of U.S. airstrikes on five Iranian provinces. Trump has since declared that the previous interim ceasefire agreement is now "completely over."
Despite the collapse of the ceasefire, high-level diplomatic efforts toward a permanent peace agreement are reportedly continuing behind the scenes.
Qatari mediators are visiting Tehran, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, currently in Oman, is expected to meet a senior U.S. delegation that includes Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Amid growing military and political pressure from Washington, Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would never surrender to the United States.
"If the Americans violate any agreement, we are fully prepared to defend ourselves," he said. "This war will never end with Iran's surrender."
Washington has made clear that any lasting agreement would require Iran to accept limits on its nuclear program, transfer nuclear materials, and guarantee the security of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, following the recent U.S. strikes and Trump's latest warning, Tehran has expressed deep skepticism about Washington's intentions.
