Iran has issued a chilling threat against former President Donald Trump, broadcasting an unsettling image of him during a past assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The ominous warning, which aired on Iranian state television, featured the phrase “This time it will not miss the target,” highlighting Tehran’s escalating hostility towards Trump in the wake of ongoing U.S. tensions.
This bold proclamation represents one of Iran’s most direct threats against the former president, occurring amid Trump’s ongoing warnings of potential military actions against Iran should it persist in its harsh crackdown on anti-government protesters. The image shown on Iranian TV depicted a bloodied Trump, taken from the rally where he was targeted by gunman Thomas Crooks.
Controversially, this isn’t the first time Iran has issued threats against Trump. In 2022, the regime released a video portraying an assassination attempt on the president at his Mar-a-Lago estate, which resurfaced following the arrest of Ryan Routh, who attempted to target Trump on the same grounds. Additionally, court documents reveal that in 2024, U.S. authorities thwarted a plot believed to be orchestrated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, aimed at assassinating Trump.
Recent rallies in Iran featuring anti-U.S. sentiments have included chants of “Death to America!” as demonstrators expressed their support for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. These pro-government displays come in response to persistent protests that erupted on December 28, which have led to a tragic death toll exceeding 2,500 and thousands more arrests, as reported by the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The protest movement, triggered by the nation’s deteriorating economic conditions, has seen a brutal government crackdown.
With tensions between Tehran and Washington flaring, Trump has maintained his stance that military options remain viable in response to the Iranian aggression against protesters. Iranian officials have retaliated with threats of attacks against U.S. troops stationed in the region and even Israel, should the U.S. enact military action against Iran.
As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis and a de-escalation of threats that could lead to further instability in the region.