Donald Trump has said that Iran should be blown “to smithereens” if it is true that the Islamic Republic is plotting to assassinate him.

The comments come after US intelligence warned of threats from Tehran against Trump’s life following two apparent assassination attempts in recent months.

Trump told a campaign event in North Carolina: “As you know, there have been two assassination attempts on my life that we know of, and they may or may not involve — but possibly do — Iran.

“If I were the president, I would inform the threatening country, in this case Iran, that if you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens,” he added.

US intelligence officials briefed former President Donald Trump on Tuesday about “real and specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an effort to destabilise and sow chaos in the United States,” the Republican nominee’s campaign stated on Tuesday evening.

The “continued and coordinated attacks have heightened in the past few months,” according to intelligence officials, and “law-enforcement officials across all agencies are working to ensure President Trump is protected and the election is free from interference,” stated Steven Cheung, communications director for the campaign.

“Make no mistake, the terror regime in Iran loves the weakness of Kamala Harris, and is terrified of the strength and resolve of President Trump,” Cheung added.

“He will let nothing stop him or get in his way to fight for the American people and to make America great again.”

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has not commented publicly on the claim.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Republican Jewish Coalition wrote that “the terrorist regime in Iran has worked to assassinate President Trump and former Trump officials, and continues to fund terrorist proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah.”

“So, naturally, the Biden-Harris admin rolls out the red carpet for Iran’s president at the United Nations,” the RJC wrote. “A total disgrace.”