Trump lashes out, vowing more sanctions
UNITED NATIONS» President Donald Trump singled out Iran for particularly harsh criticism on Tuesday as his administration ramped up pressure on Tehran to change its behavior or face additional American consequences.
In his annual address to the United Nations, Trump blasted what he called Iran’s “corrupt dictatorship” and accused its leaders of enriching themselves through massive embezzlement and raiding state coffers to spread “mayhem” across the Middle East and around the world.
Trump called out Iran’s “bloody agenda” in Syria and Yemen in particular, vowing to continue to isolate Iran through U.S. sanctions that are being reinstated following his withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal earlier this year.
The next round of sanctions that had been eased under the accord will take effect in early November and Trump said they would not be the last.
He later predicted that the pressure from renewed sanctions would force Iran back to the table to negotiate.
“Iran’s leaders sow chaos, death and destruction,” Trump told the U.N. General Assembly in a 34minute speech that was more critical of Iran than any other country. “They do not respect their neighbors or borders or the sovereign rights of nations. Instead, Iran’s leaders plunder the nation’s resources to en rich themselves and to spread mayhem across the Middle East and far beyond.”
Repeating his longstanding criticism of the nuclear deal, which was a signature foreign policy achievement of the Obama administration, Trump called it “horrible.”
He maintained that many Middle Eastern countries had supported the decision to withdraw. In fact, only Israel and Gulf Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates enthusiastically backed the move.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused the United States on Tuesday of trying to overthrow his government.
Addressing world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly, Rouhani accused the Trump administration of violating the rules of international law and “state obligations” from the Obama administration by withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran signed with the U.S. and five other major powers.
“On what basis and criteria can we enter into an agreement with an administration misbehaving such as this?” Rouhani asked. “It is ironic that the U.S. government does not even conceal its plan for overthrowing the same government it invites to talks.”