Trump Issues Ultimate Ultimatum to Iran Over Assassination Threats
In a chilling escalation of rhetoric that has sent shockwaves across global capitals, United States President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will be “obliterated” if the Islamic Republic follows through on threats against his life. Speaking during a high-stakes interview on NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich Tonight on January 20, 2026, marking his one-year anniversary back in the White House, Trump revealed that he has left “very firm instructions” for a total military response that would leave nothing of the nation standing.
The “Wipe Out” Directive: A New Doctrine of Retaliation
The President’s remarks come at a time of unprecedented tension between Washington and Tehran. Addressing long-standing reports of Iranian plots targeting him, Trump did not mince words. “I have very firm instructions—anything happens, they’re going to wipe them off the face of this Earth,” Trump declared. He emphasized that these are not merely personal grievances but a matter of national deterrence, stating that any hand of aggression against a U.S. leader would result in the “complete destruction” of the source.
Trump’s warning serves as a pivot from the “Maximum Pressure” campaign of his first term to what experts are calling a “Total Deterrence” stance. By explicitly stating that he has already signed the contingency orders for such an attack, Trump is attempting to draw a “red line” that is global in scope and absolute in its consequences.
A Volatile Context: Protests, Regime Change, and the “Sick Man”
This latest threat does not exist in a vacuum. It follows weeks of intense domestic unrest within Iran. Since December 28, 2025, massive anti-government protests have swept across all 31 Iranian provinces, triggered by a collapse in the national currency and deep-seated economic grievances.
Trump has positioned the U.S. as a champion of these protesters, famously warning on January 2, 2026, that if the regime “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the U.S. would “come to their rescue.” In his latest interview, he doubled down on this support while taking personal aim at Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Calling the leader a “sick man,” Trump openly advocated for regime change, stating, “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran.”
Tehran’s Defiant Response: “Setting Fire to Their World”
Tehran has not taken these threats lightly. Hours before Trump’s interview aired, General Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, issued a equally bellicose warning. “Trump knows that if any hand of aggression is extended toward our leader, we not only cut that hand but also we will set fire to their world,” Shekarchi said.
The Iranian regime views Trump’s rhetoric as an “act of war” and a direct intervention in their internal affairs. With reports suggesting that U.S. personnel have already been partially evacuated from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as a precaution, the risk of a miscalculation leading to a full-scale regional war in 2026 has never been higher.
The Global Impact: Oil Prices and Diplomatic Fallout
The “wipe off the earth” rhetoric has immediately impacted global markets. Oil prices, which had spiked earlier in the month due to the protests, saw a sharp sell-off as Trump briefly teased a pull-back from immediate strikes, only to stabilize at higher levels following his latest televised warning.
Diplomatic allies in Europe and the Middle East are reportedly scrambling to de-escalate the situation, fearing that a strike on Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes. For now, the world remains on tenterhooks, watching a high-stakes game of chicken between two leaders who have made it clear that they are “locked and loaded.”
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