Quick summary
• Trump signed an executive order reimposing sanctions on Iran, reviving his “maximum pressure” strategy while leaving the possibility of a new nuclear deal open.
• He threatened that Iran would be “obliterated” if it attempted to assassinate him, stating, “There won’t be anything left.”
• The U.S. Treasury announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s oil sector and affiliated companies in China, India, and the UAE.
• Iran dismissed Trump’s threats and sanctions, calling them a “failed experiment” that would not force the country into submission.
• Trump expressed reluctance about signing the sanctions order, saying he was “unhappy” to do it but felt he had no choice.
• He later denied that the U.S. was planning a military strike on Iran, calling such reports “greatly exaggerated.”
• Tensions remain high as Iran warns of retaliation, and global powers watch closely for potential escalation.
President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to “obliterate” Iran if he is assassinated, tying American military retaliation directly to his personal security in an unprecedented move that has raised concerns of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. The threat came as Trump signed an executive order reimposing strict economic sanctions on Iran, reviving his previous “maximum pressure” campaign against the country while simultaneously leaving open the possibility of negotiations for a new nuclear deal.
Speaking at the White House, Trump made his most direct warning yet to Tehran, declaring:
“If they did that, they would be obliterated. That would be the end. I’ve left instructions. If they do it, they get obliterated. There won’t be anything left, and they shouldn’t be able to do it. And Biden should have said that, but he never did. I don’t know why. Lack of intelligence, perhaps.”
The executive order restores key sanctions that were previously lifted under past agreements, targeting Iran’s oil exports, financial institutions, and affiliated foreign companies. The administration has justified the move by citing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and continued threats against Trump and other former officials, particularly those involved in the 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
Trump’s explicit military warning marks a new escalation in U.S.-Iran relations, as no previous U.S. president has ever publicly linked personal security to a national military response.
Iran has long vowed retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that killed Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, in January 2020. The Justice Department previously charged Afghan national Farhad Shakeri for allegedly conspiring with Iran to assassinate Trump before the 2024 election, and U.S. authorities believe Shakeri remains at large in Iran.
Iran has also sought criminal charges against Trump, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie over Soleimani’s killing.
Despite these threats, Trump’s remarks have been widely criticized as reckless, with foreign policy experts warning that tying military action to personal threats creates dangerous new precedents. Iran dismissed Trump’s comments, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi calling the policy a “failed experiment” and stating that the reimposition of sanctions would “end in failure,” as it did during Trump’s first term.
As Trump reinstated economic sanctions, he framed the decision as part of his ongoing effort to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and apply economic pressure on Tehran’s leadership.
The new sanctions target:
• Iran’s oil shipping company, Sepehr Energy
• Affiliated individuals and companies in China, India, and the UAE
• Iranian financial institutions accused of funding the country’s nuclear program
The Treasury Department announced the measures as part of a broader push to “drive Iran’s oil exports to zero”. The administration claims that Iran’s oil revenue helps fund its nuclear activities and regional military operations.
However, Trump’s own statements on the sanctions were notably contradictory, as he expressed reluctance over the decision. While signing the order, Trump said:
“I’m going to sign it, but hopefully we’re not going to have to use it very much.”
“We will see whether or not we can arrange or work out a deal with Iran and everybody can live together, and maybe that’s possible and maybe it’s not possible. So I’m signing this, and I’m unhappy to do it, but I really have not so much choice because we have to be strong and firm.”
This mixed messaging suggests that Trump is considering diplomatic engagement, despite the harsh economic measures.
Iran has rejected Trump’s threats and dismissed the sanctions as ineffective, claiming that economic pressure will not force them into submission. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called Iran “a powerful, resource-rich country” that has survived decades of U.S. sanctions and will continue to resist foreign economic pressure.
Iranian officials have also expressed concerns about Israel’s role in shaping U.S. policy, particularly after Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran warned that any military action from Israel would provoke a strong response, escalating tensions in the region further.
Despite reimposing sanctions and threatening military action, Trump has left the door open for negotiations, hinting that he may still pursue a new nuclear agreement with Iran.
In a Truth Social post, Trump denied rumors of an impending U.S. military strike against Iran, writing:
“I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a Nuclear Weapon. Reports that the United States, working in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into smithereens, ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED.”
This contradicts his administration’s aggressive approach, as Trump’s foreign policy remains unpredictable, swinging between maximum economic pressure and possible diplomacy.
Trump’s direct military threat raises the stakes for potential retaliation from Iran or its proxy forces in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. If Iran were to act against a U.S. official, Trump’s pre-stated policy could immediately trigger large-scale conflict.
There are also concerns that Trump’s sanctions and threats will provoke further instability, as Iran has several potential ways to respond:
• Threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil supplies pass.
• Increasing cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure.
• Launching proxy attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East.
The global reaction to Trump’s aggressive posture has been mixed. European allies have expressed concern over the escalation, while China and India—both major buyers of Iranian oil—may resist U.S. sanctions, potentially weakening Washington’s influence.
Trump’s threat to “obliterate” Iran marks an unprecedented escalation, tying military retaliation to his personal safety rather than national security. His reimposition of sanctions revives his previous “maximum pressure” campaign, even as he signals possible interest in a new nuclear deal.
Iran remains defiant, rejecting U.S. economic pressure and warning of potential conflict if provoked. The potential for miscalculation, retaliation, or outright war has increased, with the U.S., Israel, and Iran all engaged in a high-stakes geopolitical standoff.
As Trump’s administration pushes forward with a mix of threats, sanctions, and potential diplomacy, the future of U.S.-Iran relations remains deeply uncertain.
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