New Delhi: Former United States President Donald Trump has made a dramatic claim following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that he acted before alleged threats against his own life could be carried out. Trump said Khamenei had tried to have him assassinated on two occasions and that recent joint military action ended that threat first.
Trump’s remarks came days after Khamenei was killed during coordinated strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. According to Trump, intelligence assessments had linked Iran to attempts in 2024 to target him, a reference he used to justify the action taken against Tehran’s top leadership.
Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, was killed in the opening phase of a large scale military operation that sharply escalated tensions across West Asia. Iranian authorities later confirmed his death, describing it as a major blow to the country’s leadership. Trump characterised the cleric as a long standing adversary of the West and portrayed the strike as decisive.
Following the killing, Iran launched a series of retaliatory missile attacks targeting Israeli positions and American military installations in the region. The strikes marked one of the most intense confrontations in recent years, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. Several Gulf countries hosting US bases were placed on high alert as the situation continued to unfold.
Trump’s reference to past threats relates to multiple incidents in 2024 when he narrowly escaped harm. One episode occurred during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, where he was injured after a gunshot grazed his ear. Another incident took place months later in Florida, when a suspect was detained near one of his golf courses. US authorities later charged an individual accused of planning an assassination attempt, alleging links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
The developments have intensified global concern, with calls from multiple quarters for restraint and diplomatic engagement. As military actions and counter strikes continue, the death of Iran’s supreme leader has become a defining moment in an already volatile geopolitical crisis, with implications that extend far beyond the region.
