Donald Trump has reinstated his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran – as he threatened Tehran it would be “obliterated” if it assassinates him.
The US president signed a memorandum this evening in an effort to crack down on Iran’s nuclear programme and restrict oil exports.
Mr Trump signed a “tough” directive on Iran because Tehran was “too close” to having a nuclear weapon.
Mr Trump said he would hold talks with his counterpart in Tehran, but warned he’s left “instructions” for his advisers that if Iran assassinated him, the US foe “would be obliterated”.
The US Justice Department announced in federal charges in November that an Iranian plot to kill Mr Trump before the presidential election had been thwarted.
The department alleged Iranian officials had instructed Farhad Shakeri, 51, to focus on surveilling and ultimately assassinating Mr Trump. Shakeri is still at large in Iran.
It comes as Mr Trump withdrew the US from the UN Human Rights Council in an executive order.
The president has also stopped funding of the UN’s relief agency for Gaza.
The order means Mr Trump has reinstated policies that were in place during his first administration.
Joe Biden’s administration previously paused funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) after reports its staff were involved in the 7 October attacks.
Mr Trump also claimed today that Palestinians have “no alternative” but to leave Gaza, but that he doesn’t necessarily support Israelis settling in the enclave.
The US president also repeated previous suggestions that he would like to see Jordan and Egypt take Palestinians from Gaza.
The UN estimates that 60% of structures in the enclave have been damaged or destroyed, with almost all of the 2.3 million people in Gaza having been forced to leave their homes during Israel’s 15-month war to take shelter elsewhere in the territory.
Mr Trump’s executive orders and comments come as he is set to meet Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House – marking the first visit of a foreign leader during Mr Trump’s new term.
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