Threatening US will lead to Iran’s end, warns Trump
Iran says US attempting what Alexander, Genghis Khan failed at
DUBAI/TEHRAN/BAGHDAD:PRESIDENT Donald Trump warned Iran on Monday not to threaten the US again or it will face its “official end”, shortly after a rocket landed near the American embassy in Baghdad overnight.
Iran’s foreign minister quickly responded in kind on Twitter with his own message: #Neverthreatenaniranian.
Trump’s tweet comes after he sought to soften his tone on Iran after days of tension sparked by his administration’s sudden deployment of bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf over still-unspecified threats.
Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday the “genocidal taunts” of Trump will not “end Iran”. Iranians have stood firm for centuries as invaders and attackers came and went, Zarif said, adding “economic terrorism” and “genocidal taunts” won’t end Iran.
Zarif tweeted that Trump “hopes to achieve what Alexander, Genghis & other aggressors failed to do”.
“Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. #Economicterrorism & genocidal taunts won’t “end Iran”. #Neverthreatenaniranian. Try respect--it works!”
Amid the toxic rhetoric, reports said Iran has quadrupled its production of low-enriched uranium.
Two semi-official news agencies reported the production is of uranium enriched only to the 3.67% limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal. But it means that Iran soon will go beyond the stockpile limitations established by the accord.
Top Trump administration officials will brief the US Senate and House of Representatives about Iran on Tuesday, after lawmakers clamoured for more information about the tensions.
The briefers include secretary of state Mike Pompeo, acting defence secretary Patrick Shanahan, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen Joseph Dunford.