US President Donald Trump has furiously responded to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s warning of stopping oil exports by threatening that Tehran will “suffer consequences” of its “demented words.”s
“Never, ever threaten the United States again,” Trump tweeted late on Sunday, adding, “or you will suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before.”
Trump further added, “we are no longer a country that will stand for your demented words of violence and death. Be cautious.”
Iran’s president earlier issued his threats to the US at a gathering of diplomats. “Mr. Trump, do not play with the lion’s tail; this would only lead to regret,” Rouhani was quoted as saying by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.
Rouhani stressed that the United States should know that “peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars,” adding, “anyone who understands the rudiments of politics does not say ‘we will stop Iran’s oil exports’…we have been the guarantor of the regional waterway’s security throughout history.”
The recent explosive rhetoric escalation between Trump and Rouhani came after Washington planned to shut Iran out of the global oil market completely.
Last May, Trump announced his country’s withdrawal of the historic Iran nuclear deal signed under former US President Obama’s administration in 2015.
The US is now re-imposing the sanctions on its long-time foe, Iran, despite the objections from several international powers, such as Russia, France, and the UK.
In order to fill the void in the global oil market, Trump’s administration is planning to arrange with Gulf states, especially its key ally Saudi Arabia, the hardened foe to Tehran and the one who accused it of funding and backing Yemen’s Houthis, to increase its oil production.
Shortly after Iran’s threatening speech, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Tehran’s leadership of “spreading violence in the Middle East.”
Pompeo said, “the level of corruption and wealth among regime leaders shows that Iran is run by something that resembles the mafia more than a government,” adding, “these hypocritical holy men have devised all kinds of crooked schemes to become some of the wealthiest men on Earth, while their people suffer.”
