Trump Survives Alleged Iran Assassination Attempt as US Kills Plot Leader
US defence secretary says American strikes are expanding deeper into Iran as Washington and Israel claim growing air superiority.
- US kills Iranian official allegedly linked to plot to assassinate Trump
- Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says Trump “got the last laugh.”
- US and Israel claim growing control of Iranian airspace
Pete Hegseth has claimed that Donald Trump “got the last laugh” after the United States military killed an Iranian official accused of leading a plot to assassinate the former US president.
Speaking on Wednesday, the US defence secretary used strong language to describe the ongoing war with Iran, declaring that Iranian leaders were “toast” and that the United States was “winning decisively, devastatingly and without mercy.”
Hegseth told reporters that although the Iranian official was not originally the main target of the conflict, US authorities ensured those responsible for the alleged assassination plot were eventually included in the military’s target list.
“Iran tried to kill President Trump and President Trump got the last laugh,” Hegseth said.
The alleged assassination plot dates back to 2024 when the US Justice Department charged an Iranian man for reportedly participating in a plan ordered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to kill Trump while he was president-elect. Iranian authorities have consistently denied targeting Trump or other American officials.
The conflict escalated further following a joint US-Israeli operation that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Trump later referenced the earlier assassination allegations while commenting on the strike, saying: “I got him before he got me.”
War Expands Deeper into Iran
US military officials say operations are intensifying as American forces attempt to secure control of Iranian airspace.
Dan Caine revealed that US strikes are expanding deeper into Iranian territory after establishing localized air superiority along Iran’s southern coast.
“We will now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory and creating additional freedom of maneuver for US forces,” Caine said.
According to the Pentagon, Iran’s ballistic missile launches have dropped by 86% since the first day of fighting, while the use of one-way attack drones has fallen by 73%.
The conflict widened after a US strike targeted an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, worsening tensions and disrupting shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key channel for global oil and gas supplies.
No Plan for US Ground Troops
At the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were currently no plans to deploy US ground troops in Iran, though Trump believes Americans support the military operations.
Trump has suggested the conflict could last up to four weeks. However, lawmakers from both major US parties have criticized the administration for failing to outline a clear post-war strategy, with some officials hoping internal pressure within Iran could eventually lead to political change.
Meanwhile, a Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that only about one in four Americans support the US strikes on Iran, while roughly half believe Trump is too willing to use military force.
