Iran ‘playing with fire,’ Trump says
US President Donald Trump on Friday accused Iran of “playing with fire” after the Islamic republic dismissed his warnings over its latest missile test as unfounded and provocative.
In a series of early morning tweets, Trump wrote: “Iran is playing with fire – they don’t appreciate how ‘kind’ President Obama was to them. Not me!”
Iran is playing with fire – they don’t appreciate how “kind” President Obama was to them. Not me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2017
But that was only the second of five tweets fired off between 6:24 am (1124 GMT) and 6:48 am.
The first in the series concerned Trump’s feud with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the rest covered topics as varied as his conversation with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, meetings with business leaders and anti-Trump protesters.
Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger did a really bad job as Governor of California and even worse on the Apprentice…but at least he tried hard!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2017
On Thursday, the Trump administration appeared poised to levy fresh sanctions on Iran in what would mark the first concrete evidence of the new president’s tougher stance, hours after he and his national security advisor put Iran “on notice” over missile tests and support for Yemeni rebels.
The sanctions are likely to be levied on individuals or entities linked to Iran’s missile program and will be taken under existing presidential powers, sources familiar with White House deliberations said.
The measures are likely to replicate actions by former president Barack Obama’s administration, which targeted firms and the Revolutionary Guard’s missile command after previous tests.
Asked by a reporter if military action was a possibility, Trump said, “Nothing is off the table.”
On Wednesday, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn insisted the missile test was in defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. That calls on Iran not to test missiles capable of delivering a nuclear weapon.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi called the claims “baseless, repetitive and provocative.”
Iran has confirmed that it had tested a ballistic missile, but denied that it violated the terms of the nuclear deal.
Tehran says its missiles do not breach UN resolutions because they are for defence purposes only and not designed to carry nuclear warheads.
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6 Comments
Trump may start the 3rd w/w
Who would be the allies for and against the 3rd WW? Iran alone and against the U.S. will capitulate to sustained military pressure by the U.S. even if it entails “smoking” up the whole of Iran. For as long as Iran has something of value it could sell to the world for money, American reconstruction companies will have a field day utilising Iran’s money to completely rebuild and refit the country again. That will create American jobs and shore up U.S. economy, while sending a strong message to other nations who might be nursing any hint of “rebellion” against the U.S. They’d always use an infringement of a UN resolution as an excuse to go to war, particularly during a period when their economy is sagging. And please expect another war – not a WW – now that the U.S. Republican Party are back in power. They are always pro strengthening the American economy and maintaining world superiority. Wars during their reign helps strengthen the American economy as well as its global influence. Did you listen to Trump’s campaign pledges to ratchet up American influence from the low levels into which Obama had dragged it, and to create jobs for Americans? Did you think his idea of more jobs for Americans include driving away foreigners from the U.S. labour market only? The American Cowboys are back in power…and traditional Americans love them so…
Go ahead Trump; start the fire! Psycho.
Join the discussion…Tramp ..Tramp..Tramp.. I hear them marching and rolling the arsenal for the final onslaught on Iran. Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and now Syria is already a goner. Next…Iran. A free World at last for the Just, by the Just and for the Just led by the Just…Trump. Ha ha ha I dey laugh! What crazy mixed up world wevlive in. God The Almighty has just been sidelined, and all is now accordingly Uncle !
The world on edge.
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Although Iranian Govt is not alone, secretly backed by Russia and China, but Iran should have learned from Syria lesson. There are more than a million ways America and its allies can destroy a nation without declaration of war, and as soon as the war problem starts Russia and China will abandon Iran.
We will review and take appropriate action.