An Iranian state-run newspaper has issued a chilling threat against former U.S. President Donald Trump, calling for his assassination in retaliation for the 2020 drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani.
According to Fox News, the assassination threat from the Kayhan newspaper comes amid strained U.S.-Iran relations due to Trump's aggressive policies towards Iran's nuclear program.
The Kayhan newspaper, known for its close ties to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, published an editorial last Saturday that did not mince words. The article directly threatened former President Trump with death, stating that bullets would be fired into his "empty skull" in revenge for the killing of Soleimani by a U.S. drone under Trump's command.
The drone attack in January 2020 that killed Soleimani, a high-ranking Iranian general, has been a point of contention between Iran and the Trump administration. The Iranian military leader was accused by the Trump administration of causing the deaths of over 600 American soldiers.
Trump's recent comments on employing bombings and secondary tariffs against Iran if they fail to dismantle their nuclear weapons program intensified the conflict, bringing old grievances back into the spotlight.
The Kayhan newspaper criticized Trump as erratic and detrimental, stating that his actions "led to $3 trillion in damage to the U.S. economy," while worsening the country's international relations. Trump has acknowledged ongoing conversations with Iranian officials while simultaneously threatening severe economic measures.
This harsh rhetoric from both sides has inflamed the already volatile U.S.–Iran relationship. The threats have widened the cultural and political chasm, with Iran seeking to portray Trump’s actions as fundamentally harmful to the U.S. itself.
Observers like Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran, commented on the situation, saying, "Such threats ring hollow the demands of Iranian officials for there to be ‘mutual respect’ during future negotiations".
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian countered the narrative, affirming his country's willingness to engage in indirect negotiations, but stressed that the U.S. needs to build trust. The complex history of breached agreements continues to shadow U.S.-Iran dialogues.
Analysts like Iranian-born Israeli expert Beni Sabti argue that Iran's strategy is to polarize global opinion against Trump and the U.S., leveraging these incidents economically and politically. U.N. complaints and potential sanctions against Kayhan's editor have been proposed as measures to address the ongoing threats, as highlighted by experts like Sabti, who suggest leveraging international legal avenues to assert U.S. grievances.
The implications of these tensions are significant, potentially impacting any prospective peaceful negotiations. Experts like Brodsky advocate for a policy where direct negotiations with Iran should not proceed without addressing these assassination threats.
The ongoing narrative in the media and among international observers paints a grim picture of potential escalation unless both parties come to the table with a genuine intent to resolve their differences. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has yet to respond officially to the heightened rhetoric from Kayhan, leaving room for speculation about the next steps in this international drama.
The unfolding situation demands careful diplomatic handling to avert further deterioration of relations. The international community watches closely as both nations navigate this turbulent phase, hopeful for a resolution that could bring stability to a region fraught with perennial tensions.
As these events continue to evolve, the world remains a keen observer of the delicate balance of power, diplomacy, and the rhetoric that shapes these pivotal international relations.