I'm No. 1 on Iran's kill list: Trump says Tehran may be plotting to assassinate him
US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that he is Iran's "number one target" and warned that Tehran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons
US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that he is Iran's "number one target" and warned that Tehran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, while defending his administration's military action against the Islamic Republic. He also said he did not expect the conflict with Iran to flare up again, insisting any future escalation would be brief. Speaking at a press conference after the Nato summit in Ankara, Trump said he believed Iran could be plotting to assassinate him but insisted he would not back down. Read Full Story "I'm their number one target," Trump said. "They had leaders, they're gone. Now they have another set of leaders. They may be gone. And you know what, I may be gone too, because I'm their number one target." TRUMP SAYS CONFLICT WILL END QUICKLY Despite the recent military exchanges, Trump said he did not expect the confrontation between Washington and Tehran to reignite.
"I don't think it's going to start again. I think it's going to go very quickly," he said. Referring to the recent exchange of strikes, Trump added "They hit a couple of ships, and so we hit them much harder." He also argued that any future escalation would be short-lived and would ultimately improve security in the region. "Anything that happens is going to be over very quickly... and will only make it safer, including for oil." Trump I’m the number one on the kill list for Iran. I don’t really care, I’m doing my job. pic.twitter.com/9bnrWxzlkd— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 8, 2026 TRUMP DEFENDS STRIKES Trump doubled down on his long-held position that Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. "You can't let lunatics have nuclear weapons," he said, arguing that the US strikes were aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear arsenal.
IRAN WARNS TRUMP Trump's remarks came after Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister said Tehran would have to deal with Trump "in his own language" because he "understands the language of force better." The US President has repeatedly claimed that Iranian authorities have sought to target him since the 2020 US strike that killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. His latest comments add to the increasingly combative rhetoric between Washington and Tehran, even as he expressed confidence that the current conflict would not spiral into a prolonged confrontation. IRAN THREATENS TO DOUBLE ITS RESPONSE An informed source quoted by Iran's state-run Press TV claimed Tehran would close the Strait of Hormuz if it comes under any fresh military attack. The source also said Iran would retaliate by striking "enemy" targets at a ratio of at least two to one, signalling a significantly stronger military response to any future attacks.
The BriefWire