Iran Wants Trump Dead: Unraveling The Assassination Claims

Gordon Muller 19 Jun 2025

The geopolitical landscape is often fraught with tension, but few claims ignite as much alarm as the assertion that a sovereign nation seeks to assassinate a former head of state. For years, whispers and outright accusations have circulated that Iran wants Donald Trump dead. This isn't mere speculation; it stems from concrete intelligence reports, public statements from high-ranking officials, and a history of escalating animosity between the United States and the Islamic Republic.

The intensity of these threats has led to heightened security measures and a deeper look into the intricate web of regional rivalries and long-standing grievances. From the dramatic decision to eliminate a powerful Iranian general to the alleged plots uncovered by intelligence agencies, the narrative of Iran's desire to target Donald Trump is a chilling testament to the volatile nature of international relations. This article delves into the origins, evidence, and broader implications of these serious allegations, exploring the complex dynamics that have brought us to this precarious point.

The Genesis of the Threat: Soleimani's Assassination
- Trump's Decisive Action and Its Aftermath
Allegations of Iranian Assassination Plots Against Trump
- Intelligence Briefings and Heightened Security
Netanyahu's Alarms and Israeli Perspectives
- "Enemy Number One": A Unified Stance?
Iran's Official Stance: Rebuttals and Denials
The "Hit List": Protecting Former Trump Aides
The Nuclear Deal, Sanctions, and Iran's Financial Resurgence
- Trump's Stance vs. Biden's Era
Broader Geopolitical Implications and Regional Instability
- From Tel Aviv to New York: Escalating Rhetoric
The Lingering Shadow: Robert Levinson's Case

The Genesis of the Threat: Soleimani's Assassination

The roots of the current tensions, particularly the claims that Iran wants Trump dead, can be traced directly back to January 2020. On Donald Trump's orders, a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport killed Qassem Soleimani, the powerful commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force. Soleimani was widely considered the architect of Iran's regional foreign policy and proxy network, a figure second only to the Supreme Leader in influence.

His assassination was a seismic event, an unprecedented direct strike against a high-ranking Iranian official by the United States. Tehran immediately vowed "harsh revenge," and this pledge has since manifested in various forms, including rhetorical threats and alleged plots. Experts have consistently warned that while the Iranian threats are credible, the exact timing and nature of any retaliation remain uncertain. The killing of Soleimani fundamentally altered the dynamics of U.S.-Iran relations, pushing them to the brink of direct conflict and establishing a clear motive for Iran's alleged desire to target the former president.

Trump's Decisive Action and Its Aftermath

Donald Trump defended his decision to eliminate Soleimani as a necessary pre-emptive measure against imminent attacks on American personnel and interests. He argued that Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers and was actively planning further aggressions. The immediate aftermath saw Iran launch missile strikes on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops, causing traumatic brain injuries but no fatalities, a calibrated response designed to save face without triggering a full-scale war.

However, the long-term implications of Soleimani's death, particularly the persistent threats against Trump, have continued to shape the geopolitical discourse. The Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has repeatedly stated that the "revenge" for Soleimani's killing has not yet been exacted. This unwavering stance fuels the intelligence community's concerns that Iran wants Trump dead, making the former president a perpetual target in the eyes of the Islamic Republic.

Allegations of Iranian Assassination Plots Against Trump

The threats against Donald Trump are not merely rhetorical. Multiple reports from U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies have indicated concrete plots. In a significant development, CNN reported on Tuesday that U.S. officials recently learned of a specific plot by Iran to assassinate Trump. This information, citing a U.S. national security official speaking on condition of anonymity, underscored the seriousness of the intelligence gathered.

Further corroboration came from Manhattan federal prosecutors, who stated that the Iranian government ordered an operative to assassinate Donald Trump before the 2024 election. This revelation adds a new layer of urgency, suggesting a timeline and a clear objective. These reports are not isolated incidents but represent the latest in a string of assassination plots allegedly orchestrated by Tehran. The consistency of these intelligence findings across different agencies and reporting lines lends significant weight to the claims that Iran wants Trump dead.

Intelligence Briefings and Heightened Security

American intelligence officials have taken these threats seriously enough to brief former President Donald Trump directly on the dangers posed by Iran. These briefings focus on "real and specific threats," as confirmed by a Trump campaign spokesman, indicating that the intelligence community views these plots as more than just bluster. Such direct briefings underscore the gravity of the situation and the perceived credibility of the Iranian intentions.

The immediate consequence of this intelligence has been a significant increase in security around Trump. U.S. officials received information about an Iranian threat to the former president, prompting the Secret Service to enhance security measures ahead of his public appearances. For instance, additional security was deployed in the days before a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, where Trump was rushed offstage. While the specific incident at the rally was unrelated to an assassination attempt, the heightened security presence itself was a direct response to the broader Iranian threats, illustrating the constant vigilance required when it is believed Iran wants Trump dead.

Netanyahu's Alarms and Israeli Perspectives

Beyond U.S. intelligence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been a vocal proponent of the view that Iran poses a direct threat to Donald Trump. Netanyahu has made dramatic claims, asserting that Iran wants to assassinate the former U.S. president, whom he has called "enemy number one" for tearing up the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).

In an interview with ABC News, Netanyahu explicitly stated that Iran had launched assassination attempts "through proxies, yes." He elaborated, "through, through their intel, yes, they want to kill him." This direct accusation from a key U.S. ally, particularly one with extensive intelligence capabilities regarding Iran, adds another layer of credibility to the concerns. Israel's own existential fears regarding Iran's nuclear program and regional influence mean that any threat against a figure who took a hard line against Tehran is viewed with extreme seriousness.

"Enemy Number One": A Unified Stance?

Netanyahu's designation of Trump as "enemy number one" for Iran highlights the deep-seated animosity between Tehran and those who have actively sought to undermine its regional ambitions and nuclear program. Israel openly wants to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reflecting the extreme level of mutual hostility. This shared perception of Iran as a primary threat often aligns Israeli and certain American political factions, particularly those who supported Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign.

The discussion between Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the conflict between Israel and Iran further underscores this alignment. Netanyahu's stark warning, "today its Tel Aviv, tomorrow its New York," delivered in an interview, was a powerful rhetorical device intended to convey the global reach of Iran's alleged malevolence and the urgency of the threat, including the belief that Iran wants Trump dead and potentially other American figures.

Iran's Official Stance: Rebuttals and Denials

While U.S. and Israeli officials consistently raise alarms, Iran's official stance has been one of staunch denial. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani has repeatedly rebuffed the allegations as "malicious" and "unsubstantiated." Tehran "strongly rejects any involvement in the recent armed" plots or any previous plotting against Trump. Iran's mission to the United Nations has echoed this, calling the allegations "unsubstantiated and malicious."

These denials are consistent with Iran's diplomatic strategy, which often seeks to portray itself as a victim of Western aggression and misinformation. However, the persistent nature of the intelligence reports and the public statements from U.S. and Israeli officials suggest a significant disconnect between Iran's public posture and the intelligence assessments of its capabilities and intentions. The denials, while expected, do little to assuage the concerns of those who believe Iran wants Trump dead.

The "Hit List": Protecting Former Trump Aides

The alleged threats from Iran extend beyond Donald Trump himself. Intelligence reports suggest that Iran has compiled a "hit list" of former Trump aides, particularly those involved in the Soleimani operation or the "maximum pressure" campaign. This has led to a scramble to protect them, with roughly a dozen national security aides from the Trump White House reportedly feared to be on Iran’s hit list.

This expansion of potential targets indicates a broader strategy by Iran to exact revenge not just on the principal decision-maker but also on those who implemented his policies. The U.S. government takes these threats seriously, implementing protective measures for former officials who might be at risk. This situation highlights the long-term, far-reaching consequences of the Soleimani assassination and the enduring belief within the intelligence community that Iran wants Trump dead, along with his key associates.

The Nuclear Deal, Sanctions, and Iran's Financial Resurgence

The context of the alleged assassination plots is inextricably linked to the economic and nuclear policies enacted during the Trump administration. Donald Trump famously withdrew the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal, in 2018. He then reimposed crippling sanctions, aiming to force Iran back to the negotiating table for a "better deal." Trump consistently stated he would not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.

During a convention, Trump claimed that "Iran had no money" under his sanctions regime. However, he now blames the Biden administration for the resurgence of Iran's nuclear program and its "misdeeds across the region," asserting that "now Iran has $250 billion," which they "made it all over the last 2 1/2 years." This financial resurgence, whether attributed to sanctions relief or other factors, provides Iran with more resources, potentially enabling more aggressive actions, including the alleged plots against Trump.

Trump's Stance vs. Biden's Era

Trump's hardline approach, which included tearing up the nuclear deal, was a primary reason Netanyahu called him "enemy number one" for Iran. The former president's strategy was to batter Iran into submission through economic pressure. Trump has also claimed that Iran wants to restart negotiations after being battered by Israeli airstrikes, a claim Iran has denied.

The shift in U.S. administration, from Trump's "maximum pressure" to Biden's attempts at diplomacy and a potential return to the JCPOA, has created a complex environment. While Biden has sought to de-escalate, the underlying grievances from the Trump era, particularly the Soleimani assassination, continue to fuel the narrative that Iran wants Trump dead. The "within two weeks" window, mentioned in the context of potential deals, highlights the constant back-and-forth and the ongoing monitoring by national security teams regarding the volatile situation with Iran.

Broader Geopolitical Implications and Regional Instability

The alleged Iranian plots against Donald Trump are not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern of regional instability and a proxy war that spans the Middle East. Iran's use of proxies, as mentioned by Netanyahu, is a well-documented aspect of its foreign policy, allowing it to project power and exert influence without direct military confrontation. The potential for such plots to escalate into broader conflicts is a constant concern for policymakers.

The conflict between Israel and Iran, often described as a shadow war, plays a significant role in this dynamic. Israel's repeated airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria and elsewhere, and its open desire to target Iran's supreme leader, contribute to a cycle of retaliation and heightened tensions. The belief that Iran wants Trump dead is thus intertwined with this broader regional struggle for dominance and security.

From Tel Aviv to New York: Escalating Rhetoric

The rhetoric surrounding these threats often extends beyond the immediate region, reflecting the global reach of Iranian influence and the perceived threat. Netanyahu's warning, "today its Tel Aviv, tomorrow its New York," underscores the fear that Iran's ambitions and retaliatory actions could eventually target the U.S. homeland. This kind of rhetoric, while perhaps intended to galvanize international support against Iran, also raises the stakes significantly, emphasizing the potentially dire consequences if the alleged plots were to succeed.

The very public nature of these accusations and denials, played out across international media, further complicates diplomatic efforts and deepens the mistrust between nations. The ongoing narrative that Iran wants Trump dead serves as a constant reminder of the unresolved grievances and the potential for a dangerous escalation in U.S.-Iran relations.

The Lingering Shadow: Robert Levinson's Case

Amidst the high-stakes geopolitical maneuvering and assassination claims, the human cost of U.S.-Iran tensions is often overlooked. The case of Robert Levinson serves as a poignant reminder. Levinson, an American former FBI agent, vanished in Iran 18 years ago and is presumed dead. His family, from Coral Springs, has consistently called for any deal between the United States and Iran to include the return of his remains.

This case, though separate from the immediate threats against Trump, is deeply embedded in the broader narrative of U.S.-Iran relations. It highlights the long-standing issues of hostage-taking and the lack of transparency from the Iranian side. The Levinson family's plea underscores that behind the headlines of alleged plots and political rhetoric, there are real human tragedies and unresolved issues that continue to strain relations and add layers of complexity to any potential reconciliation or de-escalation, even as concerns persist that Iran wants Trump dead.

Conclusion

The assertion that Iran wants Donald Trump dead is a deeply troubling and complex issue, rooted in specific historical events, ongoing intelligence assessments, and a volatile geopolitical environment. From the retaliatory vows following the Soleimani assassination to the detailed intelligence reports of active plots and the public alarms raised by key allies like Israel, the evidence points to a credible and persistent threat. While Iran vehemently denies these allegations, the consistent concerns from U.S. and allied intelligence agencies cannot be easily dismissed.

This situation underscores the enduring fragility of U.S.-Iran relations and the far-reaching consequences of past actions. It highlights the need for vigilance, sophisticated intelligence gathering, and careful diplomatic navigation to prevent further escalation. As the world watches, the shadow of these alleged plots continues to loom large over the international stage, reminding us that the pursuit of geopolitical objectives can sometimes lead to the most extreme and dangerous intentions. Stay informed on these critical developments by subscribing to our newsletter or exploring related articles on international security and Middle East policy.

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