President Donald Trump says he has already given the U.S. military standing orders to carry out an overwhelming strike against Iran if Tehran ever succeeds in assassinating him. His comments came as the United States confirmed it will continue diplomatic talks with Iran even after declaring that a previous ceasefire is no longer in effect.
Speaking to the New York Post on Friday, Trump said Iranian threats against him have existed for years and warned that any successful attack would bring an unprecedented military response.
“I’ve been on their list for a long time. That’s what we’re dealing with,” Trump said. “The only thing is, I’ve left instructions—if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before.”
Trump was also asked about reports claiming Israel had uncovered a new Iranian assassination plot. He rejected the suggestion that there had been any new discovery.
“No, no. Israel came up with nothing. No, no,” he said. “I’ve been No. 1 [on Iran’s kill list] for a long time, and it’s the way life is, you know.”
He then added:
“I hope you’ll miss me.”
The remarks came as the White House confirmed that negotiations with Tehran will continue. Earlier on Friday, Trump announced that the United States had agreed to hold more talks after Iran requested additional discussions. At the same time, he declared that Washington no longer considers the previous ceasefire to be active.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said:
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
His statement suggests the United States is pursuing diplomacy while also taking a harder position on security issues following recent tensions between the two countries.
Diplomatic efforts are also continuing through Qatar. Reuters reported that a senior Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for meetings with top Iranian officials as part of an effort to reduce regional tensions and encourage broader negotiations.
According to a source familiar with the discussions, the initiative is being coordinated with the United States. The meetings are focused on implementing the memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran while addressing disputes that have contributed to recent military tensions, including maritime security and commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatar has served as a key intermediary between the two countries in recent months. Its latest round of diplomacy aims to prevent another escalation and create conditions for more comprehensive negotiations.
