Key facts
- President Donald Trump threatened to 'completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran' if there is an assassination attempt against him.
- Trump stated that '1,000 missiles are locked and loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian government act on its threat.'
- Trump agreed to continue talks with Iran but declared the June ceasefire 'memorandum of understanding' over.
- Iran's foreign minister claimed Iran has upheld its end of the ceasefire agreement.
- The U.S. Treasury imposed new sanctions on an Iranian financier and exchange houses.
- Israeli intelligence shared information with the US indicating a fresh Iranian plan to kill President Trump.
President Donald Trump issued a severe warning to Iran, stating that the United States would 'completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran' should there be an assassination attempt against him. This threat was made on social media, where he also posted that '1,000 missiles are locked and loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian government act on its threat.'
The strong rhetoric comes amid reports that Israeli intelligence shared new information with the US indicating a specific and active Iranian plan to kill Trump. The US Secret Service reportedly requested Trump switch aircraft following the Nato summit in Turkey due to these escalating security concerns.
Despite the heightened tensions and threats, Trump announced he had agreed to continue talks with Iran, though he also declared the June 'memorandum of understanding' ceasefire over. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, criticized the US for violating the agreement and stated that Iran had upheld its commitments. The US Treasury Department also imposed new sanctions on an Iranian financier and 13 other individuals and entities.
The exchange follows days of renewed hostilities, including strikes on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, which Qatar blamed on Iran. US forces conducted air strikes in response, killing 17 people and wounding 115 in six Iranian cities. Iran's lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, rejected any suggestion of capitulation and stated the country was prepared for full-scale defence if the US betrayed the understanding. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged both sides to uphold the MoU to restore regional stability.