Iran's state-run television has issued a stark and chilling assassination threat against US President Donald Trump, dramatically escalating tensions between the two nations.
A Chilling Message on State Airwaves
The provocative threat was broadcast on Tuesday, 14 January 2026. The news segment featured a still image of President Trump with a bloodied ear, taken after the attempt on his life in Pennsylvania in July 2024. Over this graphic, a stark message appeared: "This time, the bullet won't miss."
This broadcast came directly in response to comments made by President Trump, who had recently told opponents of the Iranian regime to 'Make Iran Great Again'. The US leader had also made claims about the situation inside Iran, telling reporters at the White House he had been informed "on good authority" that plans for executions had stopped.
Contradictory Claims Amid a Brutal Crackdown
President Trump's assertion, offered with few concrete details, starkly contradicts public statements from senior Iranian officials. He stated, "We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping — it’s stopped — it’s stopping. And there’s no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions — so I’ve been told that on good authority."
This claim follows his previous encouragement for Iranians to "keep protesting" and his promise that "help is on the way." However, the reality on the ground appears grimly different. According to activist estimates, between 2,500 and 3,000 people have been killed since widespread protests began over two weeks ago.
Furthermore, Iran's justice chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, has publicly urged the regime to act swiftly to punish more than 18,000 detained individuals through rapid trials and executions. He emphasised the need for speed, stating, "If we want to do a job, we should do it now... If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect."
UK Withdraws Diplomats as Security Fears Mount
In a significant development reflecting the deteriorating security situation, the British government shut its embassy in Tehran on Tuesday night. All but essential diplomatic staff have been withdrawn.
A government spokesperson confirmed the temporary closure, stating the embassy would now operate remotely. The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice, already cautioning against all travel to Iran, to reflect this major consular change. The move was attributed directly to "the security situation" within the country.
This series of events marks a dangerous new phase in international relations, combining explicit state-sponsored threats, a severe domestic crackdown, and tangible diplomatic repercussions.
