US President Donald Trump has said he issued “very strict” instructions for the United States to “wipe Iran off the face of the earth” if the country attempts to carry out threats to assassinate him. In an interview with News Nation to mark the first anniversary of his inauguration, a portion of which was broadcast on Tuesday, Trump stated that the United States “will respond to the whole of Iran” if it executes its threats. Pezeshkian’s remarks followed a Saturday interview with Politico in which Trump called for a search for “new leadership in Iran,” as data suggested a decline in the scale of protests. Khamenei subsequently labelled Trump a “criminal,” holding him responsible for casualties, damage, and “tarnishing the reputation of Iranians” during the past two weeks of unrest. Let us try respect, which will enable us to achieve progress beyond what some might imagine.”

Source: Daily News Egypt January 21, 2026 17:31 UTC