Trump Warns of Massive Missile Attack on Iran if Assassination Attempt Occurs

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with a massive missile attack and the potential destruction of the country if it attempts to assassinate him, following Israeli intelligence reports of such Iranian plans amid an ongoing US-Israel war against Iran that began in February.

Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran Over Alleged Assassination Plot

US President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that 1000 missiles are ready and aimed at Iran, with thousands more to follow if Iran tries to kill him, and that US military orders have already been given to be ready for up to a year to destroy all areas of Iran. [2] Trump wrote that the orders have been issued and the US military is prepared to obliterate and destroy all areas of Iran over a period of one year, with the possibility of extension. [2] The statement specified that 1000 missiles are ready and directed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, and thousands more would immediately follow if the Iranian government carried out its threat to kill or attempt to kill the sitting US president. [2]

Israeli Intelligence Prompts US Alert on Iranian Plans

Israeli intelligence shared with the US indicates Iran is planning an assassination attempt on Trump, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal and CNN. [2] The reports detail that Israel recently shared intelligence with the United States concerning Iranian plans for an attack targeting Donald Trump. [2] Trump addressed the reported threats during a NATO summit in Ankara, telling CNN that Iran wants to remove him and that he appears on every one of their lists. [2] He added that he may have been somewhat lucky so far, but that this luck is not guaranteed to last. [2]

Background on US-Israel War Against Iran and Ceasefire Breakdown

The US and Israel began a war against Iran on February 28 to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. [2] A mid-June understanding paper aimed at ending the conflict has been repeatedly accused of being violated by both sides, with recent US strikes on Iranian targets in response to attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. [2] During the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump expressed doubt about a deal with Iran, said the understanding paper is no longer valid, and described Iranians as "evil, sick people" and a "cancer" that must be removed early. [2] Trump stated that the cancer must be removed early, comparing the approach to how one deals with such a condition. [2] He also said Iran had requested to continue negotiations and the US agreed but made clear the ceasefire is over. [2]

Iran Denies Requesting Negotiations, Cites Qatari Mediation

Trump said Iran had requested to continue negotiations and the US agreed but made clear the ceasefire is over. [2] Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson denied requesting talks and said Iran accepted a meeting with a Qatari delegation acting as mediator. [2] Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, rejected claims that Iran had requested to resume negotiations with the United States in comments to Iranian state television, as reported by Reuters. [2] Instead, according to Baghaei, Iran accepted a meeting with a delegation from Qatar that has served as a mediator in the conflict. [2]

Regional Leaders Meet Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions

Separately, Egyptian and UAE presidents met in Alamein to discuss regional developments as US-Iran tensions escalate. [1] Bahrain accused Iran of systematic aggression after intercepting Iranian aerial attacks. [4] The Egyptian president met his Emirati counterpart in Alamein on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast to discuss developments amid the escalating tensions. [1] Bahrain stated that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed several treacherous Iranian aerial attacks on Sunday. [4]

Other Global Geopolitical Developments

South Korea requested North Korean help to search for and return a missing sailor who drifted across the maritime border. [3] The EU withdrew a €2 million grant from the Venice Biennale over the reopening of the Russian pavilion. [5] South Korea asked North Korea on Sunday to assist in searching for and returning a missing navy sailor believed to have drifted across the de facto inter-Korean maritime border near the Northern Limit Line. [3] The sailor went missing on Sunday morning while a vessel was on patrol off South Korea’s eastern coast. [3] The European Commission has formally confirmed the withdrawal of a €2 million grant awarded to the Venice Biennale for the 2025-2028 period following the reopening of the Russian pavilion. [5] The decision came after the Commission initiated a withdrawal procedure in April last year and requested additional clarifications on Russia’s participation. [5]

What to watch next: Further statements from the Iranian foreign ministry on mediation efforts, updates from South Korea’s Unification Ministry on the missing sailor search, and any additional actions by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency regarding the Venice Biennale grant.