Donald Trump has left instructions for US forces to “obliterate” Iran if he is assassinated, the president said on Tuesday.

“If they did that they would be obliterated,” Mr Trump said in an exchange with reporters while signing an order to reimpose “maximum pressure” on Tehran.

He added: “I’ve left instructions if they do it, they get obliterated, there won’t be anything left.”

Mr Trump said he would still be open to diplomatic talks with Tehran despite the warning.

During his first stint in the White House, Mr Trump ordered the 2020 killing of Qassim Soleimani, who led the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.

Iranian authorities have previously said Mr Trump, former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, and Kenneth F McKenzie, former US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander, are accused of orchestrating the military operation that led to Soleimani’s death.