The longstanding hostilities between the US and Iran have escalated following a recent threat against Donald Trump.
Iran has consistently warned of retaliation against Trump since his presidency began in 2017, particularly after he authorized a drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in early 2020.
Since that incident, commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard have vowed to seek revenge, even hinting that Trump could be a target. Iranian state television has also broadcast symbolic threats or warnings against the US in connection to these vows.
Recently, in a segment aired on Iranian state TV, the rhetoric intensified.
The broadcast, shown on Wednesday (January 14), depicted an image of Trump flanked by Secret Service agents following a fictional 2024 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Alarmingly, the segment included the assertion that ‘this time, [the bullet] won’t miss’.
Amichai Stein, a correspondent for i24 News and The Jerusalem Post, shared the segment on X, accompanying it with a translation from Farsi.
Meanwhile, Iran is grappling with widespread protests that erupted last December, driven by anti-government sentiments.
Reports indicate that over 18,000 individuals have been detained and more than 2,400 protestors have lost their lives.
The Iranian rial has plummeted, prompting calls from citizens for political reform amid the economic turmoil.
In response, Trump has cautioned that the US would take action if necessary.
During a CBS interview on January 13, Trump stated that his administration would ‘take very strong action [if] peaceful protestors’ faced execution in Iran.
He remarked: “We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happen. And you know, if they want to have protests, that’s one thing, when they start killing thousands of people, and now you’re telling me about hanging.
“We’ll see how that works out for them. It’s not going to work out good.”
IRAN STATE TV AIRS THREAT AGAINST TRUMP“: This time, the bullet won’t miss.” pic.twitter.com/rFIYjBrV8F
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) January 14, 2026
Trump has also claimed to have credible information indicating that plans for executions in Iran have been suspended, though he did not elaborate on the source of this intelligence.
When questioned about potential US military action, he provided an ambiguous answer, suggesting that the situation would be monitored closely.
In a public address, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, cautioned against any military intervention by the US.
He declared: “In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centrers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets.”