Iran issued a direct threat to US President Donald Trump via state television, warning that "next time the bullet won’t miss," in reference to a past assassination attempt. This escalation follows heightened tensions between the US and Iran, primarily due to Iran's severe crackdown on nationwide anti-regime demonstrations. The Iranian leadership also aims to deter Trump from threatening further military action in response to the protests.
Trump had previously encouraged the protesters, stating that "help is on its way," which prompted Iran's state TV to broadcast footage of a failed assassination attempt against Trump in 2024, accompanied by the menacing caption. Tensions had been rising for days, with Trump vowing "very strong action" if Iran executed protesters.
Initially, a shopkeeper named Erfan Soltani was believed to be the first protester sentenced to death, with reports suggesting he was scheduled for execution. However, Iran's judiciary later confirmed that Soltani had not been sentenced to death. He is currently charged with "colluding against the country’s internal security and propaganda activities against the regime," but the judiciary stated that the death penalty does not apply to such charges if confirmed by a court. Amidst these developments, the US began withdrawing military personnel from key bases in the region, and security alert levels at U.S. Al Udeid air base in Qatar were lowered after a period of heightened alert.
Trump indicated he had received assurances that large-scale executions were not planned and that the killings of protesters were subsiding, citing "very important sources on the other side." However, he did not rule out potential US military action. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also stated in an interview that there were no plans for executions or hangings related to the protests. Both Iran and its Western adversaries have described the ongoing unrest as the most violent since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranian authorities have characterized the demonstrations as being fomented by foreign enemies, with individuals described as terrorists attacking security forces and public property.