Tehran Escalates Rhetoric: Iranian State TV Broadcasts Chilling Threat Against President Trump

Washington/Tehran, January 14, 2026 — Iranian state television aired a segment Wednesday featuring footage from the July 2024 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, overlaid with a stark message in Persian: "This time, the bullet will not miss the target."

Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel took over the cell phones of all the residents of Gaza and were force-feeding them his speech at the UN LIVE while he was giving he was delivering the speech late last year.

The broadcast, which appeared during coverage of anti-government protests gripping the Islamic Republic, displayed images of Trump bloodied after a bullet grazed his ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, more than a year ago. The ominous caption has been widely interpreted as a direct — and chilling — assassination threat against the U.S. president, marking one of the most explicit public warnings from Tehran in recent years.

The taunt comes at a moment of acute crisis in U.S.-Iran relations. Massive nationwide demonstrations against the clerical regime have entered their third week, with human rights groups reporting a death toll exceeding 2,000 protesters killed in the crackdown — though some estimates suggest the true figure could be far higher. Tens of thousands more have been detained, and Iranian authorities have vowed fast-track trials and executions for those accused of participating in the unrest.

President Trump, who has repeatedly signaled support for the demonstrators, warned Tuesday during a CBS News interview that the U.S. would take "very strong action" if the regime proceeds with hangings. "If they hang them, you're going to see something," Trump said, adding that he has canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the "senseless killing" stops. He has also posted messages on social media urging Iranians to "keep protesting" and declaring "help is on its way," alongside the slogan "MIGA" — Make Iran Great Again.

The Iranian broadcast is seen as a defiant response to these threats. State media aired the imagery amid reports of funerals for security forces killed in the protests, with crowds chanting "Death to America." Tehran has accused the U.S. of inciting violence and seeking to destabilize the government, while warning regional countries that any American military action would trigger retaliation against U.S. bases in nations such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey.

Multiple sources indicate the Trump administration is actively weighing military options, including potential strikes on high-value Iranian targets. Reports suggest U.S. and British personnel have begun evacuating select bases in the region as a precautionary measure, fueling speculation of imminent action. Officials have been briefed on dossiers outlining IRGC infrastructure, and some Western diplomats believe U.S. intervention could occur within the next 24 hours.

This is not the first time Iran has issued threats against Trump. The regime has long vowed revenge for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, and U.S. intelligence has disrupted several alleged Iranian-linked plots against him in recent years. However, Wednesday's televised message represents a rare public escalation, broadcast directly to domestic and international audiences.

17GEN4.com