Protocol in place for Trump’s death as Iran ‘try to assassinate him’

The United States Secretary of War Pete Hesgeth has claimed that Iran has tried to assassinate President Donald Trump.

Tensions between the US and Iran reached a boiling point last weekend when strikes were launched against the Middle Eastern country, with Trump vocal about his desire to destroy their nuclear weapons.

After Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, Trump suggested that he had simply assassinated Khamenei before he was able to do the same to him.

But that clearly hasn't deterred Iran from trying to kill off the 79-year-old, who also bombed their homeland in summer last year in his quest to ensure that they don't have access to any deadly nuclear weapons.

What has Pete Hesgeth said about Iran and Trump?

Speaking in a press conference today (4 March), Hesgeth said: "Yesterday, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump was hunted down and killed.

"Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh."

Hegseth spoke about the sinking of an Iranian warship in international waters today, adding: "This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it’s not a fair fight… they’re going down.

"More and larger waves are coming; we are just getting started."

What protocol is in place should Trump die in office?

Trump, who also survived an assassination attempt when he was shot in the ear during his political campaign, has already outlined exactly what will happen should he die while in office.

"That would be a terrible thing for them to do," Trump said in a video dated to February 2025.

"Not because of me, if they did that they would be obliterated... that would be the end."

Although he didn't go into great detail about what his specific instructions would be, the controversial leader did imply that there would be 'nothing left' of Iran should they be successful in any assassination attempt.

Some protocol details have been released about what would happen should Trump die while in office, and the immediate aftermath would see his vice-president JD Vance take over.

The US constitution states:"In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected."

JD Vance could become the youngest president if Trump is killed in office (Matt Rourke-Pool/Getty Images)

After Vance chooses a new team, he would serve out the rest of Trump's term, with no new elections until that timeframe has been completed.

Why are the United States and Israel attacking Iran?

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday (28 February) that the US and Israel have started 'major combat operations' in Iran after explosions were heard in multiple cities across the country.

Following a significant buildup of US forces in the region in recent weeks, Trump declared in a video posted on Truth Social that 'we are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground'.

Alongside hundreds of civilian casualties - including at least 153 people and children after a reported strike hit a school in Minab - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed dead following Israeli missile strikes around Tehran.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the US strikes (Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran via Getty Images)

According to Trump, the aim of this weekend's attacks were to 'ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon'.

Meanwhile, in reference to Israel's retaliation strikes, the country's defence minister stated that the goal was to 'remove threats against the State of Israel'.

This has come after weeks of Trump threatening military action in Iran if the Middle Eastern country did not agree to a new deal over its nuclear programme. However, Iran has insisted repeatedly that its nuclear activities are 'entirely peaceful'.

What areas of the Middle East have been affected?

In retaliation to the US and Israeli strikes, Iran has launched strikes of its own on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, which include Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait.

The BBC reports that at least nine people were killed in a strike on the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, while military and civilian targets - including an American naval base in Bahrain and Dubai's international airport in the United Arab Emirates - were also targeted across the weekend.

Several videos have been posted on social media from tourists and civilians that show the damage inflicted across these areas from missile and drone strikes, including many British citizens who are currently stranded in Dubai.

Is the UK going to war with Iran?

This is a question that has been asked repeatedly since the major combat operation began in Iran, due to the nation being an ally of both the United States and Israel.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that British planes were 'in the sky' in the Middle East as part of a defensive operation 'to protect our people, our interests and our allies', and condemned Iran's retaliatory attacks on 'partners across the region'.

While the UK did not participate in the strikes, Starmer released a joint statement with the leaders of France and Germany, calling for Iran to 'refrain from indiscriminate military strikes'.

"Iran can end this now," Starmer said. "They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programme and cease the appalling violence and oppression of the Iranian people – who deserve the right to determine their own future."

However, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Yvette Cooper, has said it is 'simply not true' that the UK is being dragged into another Iraq-style conflict in the Middle East.

While addressing a reported Iranian drone strike on a RAF base in Cyprus, she told Sky News on Monday, 2 March: "We took a very specific decision not to provide support for strikes that were taking place over this weekend. We have been clear that we believe there should be a diplomatic process, negotiations process."