Former President Donald Trump revealed on Friday that he has 1,000 missiles "locked and loaded and aimed" at Iran, vowing to "completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran" for a year if the Islamic republic carries out threats to assassinate him.
Trump issued the warning in a post on his Truth Social platform, stating that "thousands of more" missiles would follow should the Iranian government act on its threats. He asserted that orders have already been given and the U.S. military is prepared for such a response, subject to extension.
The former president's remarks came after chants calling for his death were heard during the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump noted that he has been on Iran's assassination list for a long time, referencing the January 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport.
Trump told the New York Post earlier this week that he had left instructions for the U.S. to "literally bomb them at levels that they've never seen before" if anything were to happen to him. He dismissed reports of new Iranian assassination plots, stating that Israel had not uncovered anything new and that he had been a target for an extended period.
The threat environment surrounding Trump has intensified, particularly following a July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a sniper's bullet grazed his ear. Posters and banners calling for Trump's death have appeared in Tehran, reflecting ongoing animosity.
Trump also stated that the U.S. has responded "20-1" to Iran's attacks on international shipping, indicating a heightened military posture. While some administration advisers have informally referred to the current military campaign as "Operation B**** Slap," White House and Pentagon officials have stressed that this is not an official designation. The administration has signaled its readiness to sustain military operations if attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and threats to American interests continue. The scale and duration of the campaign are contingent on Iran's actions.