President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, threatening “total obliteration” if the country attempted to assassinate him. The statement came after he signed an executive order in the Oval Office on Tuesday, outlining a “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Trump, who has long been a vocal critic of Iran, was asked why he seemed hesitant when signing the order, especially considering the ongoing threats from Iranian leaders following the U.S. airstrike that killed General Qasem Soleimani in January 2020. “If they did that, they would be obliterated,” Trump responded firmly. “I have left instructions. If they do it, they get obliterated, there won’t be anything left.”

When pressed to clarify his comments, Trump reiterated his position. “That would be called total obliteration,” he said, adding that he couldn’t fathom Iran following through on the threat.

Trump also criticized President Joe Biden for not issuing a similar strong warning during his four years in office. “Biden should have said that, but he never did. I don’t know why. Lack of intelligence, perhaps? But he never said it,” Trump lamented.

The former president’s stance on Iran has been marked by decisive actions. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Obama-era nuclear deal and authorized the assassination of Soleimani. Since then, both Trump and key figures within his administration have been under threat from Iran. Biden’s administration, ahead of the 2024 election, made it clear to Iran that any attempt on Trump’s life would be considered an act of war.

Trump has been vocal about his policy on Iran, declaring, “They cannot have a nuclear weapon. I think they’re close. They’re too close.” The order he signed, he noted, was “very tough” on Iran, but he emphasized that he would prefer a diplomatic resolution. “It’d be great if we could have a Middle East, and maybe a world, at total peace,” he said.

The former president also responded to questions about meeting with Iranian leaders, stating that he would be open to discussions if given the opportunity.

Trump’s tough stance is not limited to his policy on Iran. Last month, he began his “retribution tour” by removing security details from officials who were reportedly under threat from Iran, including former National Security Advisor John Bolton and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Both men had been targeted by Iran due to their roles in Trump’s administration, but Trump criticized them for not being loyal enough to him as he seeks to return to office in 2024.

Trump’s comments about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and his uncompromising stance on any threat to his life serve as a stark reminder of the high stakes in U.S.-Iran relations and the complexities of international diplomacy.