By Gloria Nosa
Tensions between the United States and Iran are once again surging after Tehran issued a cryptic yet ominous warning seemingly directed at former U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting he may one day face fatal consequences for his role in the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. The statement, widely interpreted by analysts and observers as a thinly veiled death threat, has reignited fears of Iran’s long-promised retaliation.
During a recent speech marking the anniversary of Soleimani’s death, top Iranian officials made references to “justice being served” and “the avenger’s hand reaching those responsible, no matter how long it takes.” While Trump was not mentioned by name, the context and language used left little doubt about whom the warning was aimed at.
A Lingering Grudge Over Soleimani’s Death
General Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, was killed in a U.S. drone strike ordered by President Trump in January 2020 while leaving Baghdad International Airport. The strike, which also killed senior Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, was defended by the Trump administration as a preemptive move to thwart imminent attacks on American personnel. However, Iran has long viewed it as an act of assassination and state-sponsored terrorism.
In the years since Soleimani’s death, Iranian leaders — including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — have repeatedly vowed revenge. While various forms of indirect retaliation have occurred, including cyberattacks and threats against U.S. military interests in the Middle East, the latest message marks a bold and public escalation in rhetoric targeting Trump directly.
The Warning and Its Interpretation
Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei reportedly said, “Those who gave the order and carried out the assassination will not be safe on Earth. Even if they hide behind palaces and presidential immunity, justice will find them.” Statements like these, delivered with deliberate ambiguity, are standard in Iranian political messaging, but regional experts and U.S. intelligence analysts see them as more than mere posturing.
“The language is unmistakable,” said a former U.S. diplomat familiar with Middle Eastern affairs. “Iran is signaling that it has not forgotten and that Trump, in particular, remains a marked man in their eyes.”
In addition, Iranian state media has intensified its coverage of Soleimani’s legacy in recent weeks, airing documentaries and tributes that glorify the late general while condemning Trump and his allies as murderers.
U.S. Government Response and Security Concerns
Although there has been no official response from the Biden administration, U.S. security agencies are reportedly monitoring the situation closely. Trump, who has Secret Service protection as a former president, has not made any public comments about the threat, but insiders suggest his security detail has been on heightened alert for months due to ongoing threats from Iran and its proxy groups.
This is not the first time Iran has hinted at targeting Trump personally. In January 2022, a video was posted to Iranian state-affiliated websites depicting a drone targeting a golf course — symbolically suggesting an attack on Trump. Though widely dismissed as propaganda, it underlined Tehran’s sustained narrative of vengeance.
Global Reaction and Diplomatic Fallout
The international community is watching closely. Diplomatic channels between the U.S. and Iran remain fragile, especially with nuclear deal negotiations stalled and regional instability on the rise. Any direct or attempted action against Trump could lead to severe retaliation and a dramatic escalation in U.S.-Iran relations.
Experts warn that Iran’s latest message may be part of a broader psychological strategy aimed at instilling fear and asserting influence rather than an immediate operational threat. However, given Iran’s track record of using proxy groups for covert operations, the danger cannot be entirely dismissed.
Iran’s chilling new warning over the death of Qassem Soleimani places Donald Trump once again at the center of international controversy. Whether the threat materializes into action or remains rhetorical, it underscores the long shadow Soleimani’s killing continues to cast on global politics — and how far Iran may be willing to go to settle that score.
