Trump Threatens Iran with 'Mass Destruction' After Assassination Plot Briefing

Former President Donald Trump threatened Iran with severe retaliation, even warning of "mass destruction," during a rally near Charlotte, North Carolina.

His comments followed a security briefing by U.S. officials that revealed a plot by Iran to assassinate him.

“If I were the president, I would inform the threatening country, in this case, Iran, if you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens,” Trump declared during the rally.

His remarks came after his campaign revealed that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence briefed him on "real and specific threats" from Iran, aimed at destabilizing the U.S. in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

Current and former U.S. officials are also reportedly being targeted by Iranian threats, which officials have described as "clear."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed the ongoing threat, stating, “We are watching this very carefully," but offered no further details.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shifted the focus to the economy.

She outlined her priorities, which include cutting taxes for middle-class families, expanding access to paid leave, lowering the cost of childcare and elder care, and offering more support for startups and first-time homebuyers.

Harris contrasted her economic plan with Trump's, accusing him of having no strategy to lower costs for the middle class and suggesting that his policies would instead raise prices.