Iranian mobile users across the country received government-distributed text messages promoting an “international campaign to reward the assassination of Trump,” marking a disturbing shift from isolated threats to mass public incitement. From State Television to Personal Devices The Iranian regime crossed a dangerous threshold when screenshots emerged showing mass text messages promoting assassination rewards sent directly to citizens’ mobile phones. This represents a quantum leap from previous threats broadcast on state television or whispered through intelligence channels. The regime now uses telecommunications infrastructure to distribute calls for political murder, transforming every mobile phone into a potential propaganda delivery system. Screenshots shared with Iran International confirm the campaign’s existence, though the full scope remains unclear regarding how many Iranians received these disturbing messages or their geographic distribution across the country. A mass text message sent to mobile users in Iran promoted what it described as an “international campaign to reward the assassination of Trump,” according to screenshots of the message shared with Iran International. The message urges recipients to register their support through… pic.twitter.com/jPhfqoczrt — Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 25, 2026 The Shadow of Soleimani Looms Large Trump became Iran’s primary target in January 2020 when he authorized the drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force. That decision fundamentally reshaped U.S.-Iran relations and established Trump as the focus of Iranian retaliation efforts. The regime has never forgiven or forgotten, viewing Trump’s continued survival as unfinished business. Federal prosecutors have documented this vendetta through multiple criminal cases, including charges unsealed in November 2024 regarding an IRGC plot to assassinate Trump before the presidential election. An operative named Asif Merchant allegedly attempted to hire assassins for five thousand dollars upfront, demonstrating Iran’s willingness to invest resources in eliminating Trump. A Pattern of Escalating Threats The text message campaign represents the latest chapter in an evolving threat landscape. In January 2026, Iranian state television IRINN broadcast footage showing a mourner at a ceremony holding a placard featuring Trump’s image from the Butler, Pennsylvania rally where he was shot in the ear. The Farsi text read “this time it will not miss the target,” a chilling reference to the July 2024 assassination attempt by Thomas Crooks, which U.S. authorities determined was unrelated to Iran. This public taunting demonstrated the regime’s confidence in making explicit threats without immediate consequences. The progression from isolated plots to state television broadcasts to mass text distribution reveals a deliberate strategy of normalization and escalation. : Iranian media shares an image of a missile that reads: “This is the gift that Trump said, "Open your arms and receive it!" The promise is true.” pic.twitter.com/e5P67uyWbj — Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) March 25, 2026 Protests, Pressure, and Propaganda The assassination campaign unfolds against a backdrop of widespread anti-government protests in Iran, where thousands have been killed or detained. Trump repeatedly threatened military strikes if the regime continued its violent crackdown, warning “we are locked and loaded and ready to go.” This rhetoric provides Iran’s leadership with a dual motivation for the text campaign: rallying domestic support by redirecting public anger toward an external enemy while simultaneously warning the United States against military intervention. Trump has claimed the “killing has stopped in Iran” and that violent unrest is beginning to quell, though the situation remains highly volatile with unresolved tensions on both sides. The Credibility Question Should Americans take these threats seriously? The documented history argues yes. U.S. federal courts have examined undercover video evidence and testimony regarding Iran-linked assassination plots. The Department of Justice has unsealed criminal charges detailing IRGC operations. Intelligence agencies maintain heightened threat assessments regarding Trump’s security. However, the public nature of the mass text campaign suggests a propaganda dimension alongside operational intent. Regimes serious about assassination typically operate in shadows, not through mass public messaging. The campaign may serve primarily to mobilize domestic support and project strength during a period of internal instability, while simultaneously maintaining pressure on U.S. decision-making regarding military intervention. Dangerous Precedents and Future Implications The use of mass communication infrastructure to promote political assassination establishes a troubling precedent. State control over telecommunications networks, combined with willingness to use them for incitement, creates a model other authoritarian regimes might emulate. Trump faces an institutionalized, ongoing threat that extends beyond his current presidency, as Iranian leadership has invested substantial political capital in maintaining Soleimani’s memory and demanding retribution. The broader implications affect regional stability, U.S. allies who could become targets of Iranian retaliation, and global energy markets vulnerable to disruption from military conflict. The international community watches nervously as rhetoric escalates without clear diplomatic off-ramps, raising the specter of miscalculation or unintended military confrontation between nuclear-threshold adversaries. Sources: Fox News: Iranian protestors hold Trump assassination attempt photo, chant ‘death to America,’ state media shows Times of India: ‘This time bullet won’t miss target’: Iran issues chilling warning to Donald Trump, airs clip of 2024 assassination attempt WPDE: Iran taunts President Donald Trump with assassination threat, shares chilling image from Butler Pennsylvania rally Jerusalem Post: Iran taunts Trump with chilling image from assassination attempt Iran International: Mass text message in Iran promotes ‘international campaign to reward assassination of Trump’