Trump: “If They Try to Assassinate Me, 1,000 Missiles Will Be Fired at Iran”

Al Mashri, one of Iran's largest newspapers and a publication owned by the Tehran municipality, ran a threatening statement Saturday directed at the United States and Israel, attributed to newly installed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The statement appeared against the backdrop of Ali Khamenei's burial and declared that Mojtaba had ordered revenge for his father's killing.

The supreme leader, who has not been seen publicly since Operation "Roar of the Lion," was quoted as saying: "Revenge is the demand of our people, and it will be carried out. These criminals — whose names are recorded from first to last — will go to their graves nursing the wish to die peacefully in their beds. They must understand that this does not depend on my presence or the presence of any other senior official. Whether we are here or not, it will happen — and soon. Free people from every corner of the world will each play their part in this divine mission."

Iranian newspapers simultaneously published an image depicting senior American and Israeli figures — led by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — dressed in prison uniforms with a rifle scope trained on their faces. The accompanying headlines read: "Committed to Revenge."

Even before the Iranian publications surfaced, Trump addressed the threats against his life in a conversation with the New York Post: "I left instructions in case Iran assassinates me. I've been on their list for a long time — that's what we're dealing with. I instructed that if something happens, they should bomb them at a level they have never seen before. A thousand missiles will rain down on them."

Meanwhile, Fars News Agency — closely aligned with the Iranian regime — cited a "senior source" within Iran's negotiating circle, who flatly denied reports of an Iranian request to resume talks with Washington: "Reports published by certain media outlets close to Israel claiming that Iran has requested negotiations with the U.S. are false. The Islamic Republic has submitted no such request, and no negotiations will take place until the American side withdraws from its positions."

Trump pushed back directly: "Iran asked us to continue the talks. We agreed — but the U.S. made clear to them, without any ambiguity, that the ceasefire is over."

CNN reported that the Trump administration is actively discouraging Israeli military involvement in the confrontation with Iran at this stage, out of concern that Israeli participation could cause the situation to spiral beyond American control. Trump and Netanyahu spoke on the matter yesterday; the president informed the prime minister that he had not intended to strike Iran the previous night, and that he remains open to giving negotiations another chance. At the same time, Trump signaled his intention to adopt a markedly harder line going forward — a significant departure from the posture maintained between the initial agreement and this week's escalation.