United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying he has ordered a devastating military response if Tehran carries out any attack on him. In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump said 1,000 US missiles are “loaded, locked and pointed” at Iran, with thousands more ready to follow in the event of an attack.
“1,000 missiles are loaded and locked and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran. If the Iranian government acts on its threats to kill or attempt to kill the sitting President of the United States, the orders have already been given,” Trump wrote. He added that the US military is fully prepared to strike Iranian targets for up to a year, with the possibility of extension. Trump’s statements come at a time when there have been reports for years that Iran has been considering scenarios for revenge against him after the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani during his first presidential term. US media, including the Wall Street Journal, have previously reported that Israel had shared information with Washington about possible Iranian plans against the former US president.
American ultimatum on the Strait of Hormuz
Meanwhile, according to Axios, the Trump administration has sent Iran an ultimatum, demanding that Tehran publicly declare that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open to international shipping and commit to stopping attacks on commercial shipping. According to three US officials, the message has been conveyed both directly and through regional intermediaries. Also today, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to hold talks in Muscat with his Omani counterpart, Sayyed Badr al-Busaidi, where the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz will be the focus.
According to US officials, the US expects Iran to publicly announce after this meeting that it will stop attacking ships and guarantee free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, without imposing tariffs or other barriers. A US official warned that if Tehran rejects these demands, the consequences will be serious. “If that is not their position, then it is not going to be a good day for them,” the US official said, according to Axios.
