Washington: Tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate. On Thursday, the US reportedly carried out strikes on around 80 Iranian targets. Amid the growing unrest in the Middle East, President Donald Trump made a major claim on Wednesday, alleging that Iran is plotting to assassinate him. He further asserted that he is on every Iranian hit list.
What did Donald Trump say about assassination?
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that he is Iran’s “number one target”. While speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit, Trump said, “They want to eliminate the American leader. I’m on every list they have. I’ve had some luck so far, but it probably won’t last forever. They’re evil and sick people. We have to get rid of this cancer.”
Trump also announced that the US Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tehran is now over. This statement came just hours after the latest US attacks on Iran.
What did Trump say about being in the hit list?
After the Nato summit in Ankara, while speaking at a press conference, the US President said he believed Iran could be plotting to assassinate him but insisted he would not back down.
“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.”
What did the US say?
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that American forces struck Iranian air defense systems, radar installations and more than 80 small boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in response to Iranian attacks on civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported that the attacks killed an IRGC member in Bandar Mahshahr. Explosions were reported in several locations, including Bushehr, home to Iran’s nuclear power plant complex.
Iran responded with drone and missile attacks on US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait. Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while Kuwait is home to US Army troops. Kuwaiti officials said they destroyed two Iranian ballistic missiles and 13 drones.
