Phoenix 24
Threats deepen a rapidly escalating regional confrontation.
ANKARA, TÜRKİYE — July 2026. Iranian ultraconservative figures have openly called for an attack against United States President Donald Trump while he attends the NATO summit in Ankara. Hardline lawmaker Hamid Rasaei urged Tehran to target Trump’s location in Türkiye with missiles, arguing that the American president was temporarily within Iran’s reach. The remarks intensified security concerns surrounding an international gathering already dominated by renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The inflammatory rhetoric extended beyond parliament. The ultraconservative newspaper Kayhan, whose leadership maintains close ties to Iran’s power establishment, published a front-page demand for Trump’s death and promoted the idea of placing a financial reward on him. Mohammad Javad Larijani also argued that those considered responsible for recent attacks against Iran should be identified and declared legitimate targets. These statements did not constitute an announced military order, but they reflected mounting pressure from influential sectors seeking direct retaliation.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi adopted a similarly confrontational tone, saying that Trump responds only to the language of force. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi avoided repeating the most explicit threats but warned that Iran would answer through actions rather than rhetoric. Calls for revenge have also appeared on billboards and during public ceremonies commemorating former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The language illustrates how political mourning is being transformed into a broader campaign of retaliation.
Trump acknowledged the threats while speaking to journalists in Ankara, describing the presidency as an inherently dangerous position and identifying himself as Iran’s principal target. His visit coincided with new American strikes against Iranian targets following attacks on commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. Washington also withdrew authorization that had temporarily permitted Iranian oil sales. Trump subsequently declared that the fragile interim agreement with Tehran was effectively over.
The confrontation now extends beyond military operations and economic pressure into direct threats against political leaders. Türkiye’s role as host of the NATO summit places Ankara at the center of a dispute capable of testing regional security and diplomatic restraint. Any attack on Turkish territory would carry consequences far beyond the bilateral conflict between Iran and the United States. The most immediate danger lies in rhetoric becoming operational policy.
When political threats identify specific targets, escalation enters a more dangerous phase.