Trump warns Iranian president against threatening US
Day after Iran's President Rouhani warns US that war with Iran would be 'the mother of all wars', US president delivers a stern response on Twitter, warning the Islamic republic to 'Never ever threaten the US again' or suffer unparalleled ‘consequence.'
US President Donald Trump has issued a warning on Twitter to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani that he will face dire consequences for threatening the United States, a day after the Iranian leader cautioned Trump about pursuing hostile policies against Tehran, saying an American war with Iran would be "the mother of all wars."
Trump tweeted early Monday about the dangers to Iran of making hostile threats.
"American must understand well that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace and war with Iran is the mother of all wars," Rouhani said, leaving open the possibility of peace between the two countries which have been at odds since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
"You are not in a position to incite the Iranian nation against Iran's security and interests," Rouhani said, in an apparent reference to reported efforts by Washington to destabilize Iran's Islamic government.
Trump responded early Monday with a tweet that warned: "NEVER EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKE OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE."
Trump's tweet suggested he has little patience with the trading of hostile messages with Iran, using exceptionally strong language and writing an all-capitalized message.
"WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!," he wrote.
In Washington, US officials familiar with the matter told Reuters that the Trump administration has launched an offensive of speeches and online communications meant to foment unrest and help pressure Iran to end its nuclear program and its support of militant groups.
To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2018
More than half a dozen current and former officials said the campaign, supported by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton, is meant to work in concert with Trump's push to economically throttle Iran by re-imposing tough sanctions. The drive has intensified since Trump withdrew on May 8 from a 2015 seven-nation deal to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Trump's tweet, saying that he "would like to praise US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's firm stance against the aggression of Iran's regime.
"The powers have indulged Iran's regime over the years and it's good to see the US is changing this wrong equation," the premier concluded.
Trump earlier this year pulled the United States out of the international deal meant to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon and ordered increased American sanctions.
Rouhani warned Trump Sunday to stop "playing with the lion's tail" and threatening Iran, "or else you will regret it."
Trump has suggested Iranian leaders are "going to call me and say 'let's make a deal'" but Iran has rejected talks.
Rouhani has previously lashed out against Trump for threatening to re-impose the sanctions, as well as for moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem and banning travel to the US from certain Muslim-majority countries.
Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
