Former President Donald Trump warned Iran on Wednesday that a successful assassination attempt would trigger massive military strikes, saying he has instructed officials to “bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before.”

The warning came after U.S. intelligence assessed Iran was actively planning to target Trump. The statement marks a departure from typical diplomatic language, delivered with explicit and unambiguous consequences.

What Trump Said

“I’ve left instructions – if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before,” Trump said in a statement on Wednesday. The declaration outlined consequences without conditional language or hedging.

Trump claimed Iran has already sustained substantial military losses. “Their nuclear sites are rubble. Their air defenses are gone. Their military leadership has been substantially reduced,” Trump stated regarding Iran’s current military position.

The Deterrence Strategy

Trump’s approach relies on making the costs of action catastrophically clear to potential adversaries. Deterrence theory suggests rational actors will choose inaction when facing severe consequences.

The specific nature of the threatened military response remains undefined, leaving Iran’s leadership to assess the full scope of possible reactions. If an assassination succeeded, Vice President JD Vance would assume the presidency and determine how to execute Trump’s stated instructions.

Intelligence Assessment and Security

U.S. intelligence agencies identified Iran as possessing both the capability and intent to target Trump. Recent presidential security measures, including aircraft switches at NATO events, reflect assessments of credible threat intelligence.

Security analysts noted that certain immigration policies created operational opportunities for Iranian agents to enter the United States. Trump survived three previous assassination attempts, underscoring the seriousness of current threat assessments.

Iran’s Dual Approach

Iran has maintained both public threats and private diplomatic signals simultaneously. Assassination threat banners appeared at recent state funerals even as Iranian officials indicated willingness to negotiate with the incoming administration.

Trump’s warning signals that Tehran’s cost-benefit calculation has shifted unfavorably. The explicit nature of his threat leaves little ambiguity about potential consequences.