Trump goads Iran’s leader in late-night Twitter rant

DONALD TRUMP has escalated his sabre-rattling against Iran, raising the prospect of conflict and warning that threats against the United States would result in “historic consequences”.

Mr Trump’s late-night announcement on Twitter appeared to be part of a coordinated strategy in Washington to send a message to the Iranian regime ahead of sanctions being reimposed.

The approach included a speech by Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, lambasting Iran’s leaders as a “corrupt Mafia more than a government”, and describing perceived moderates such as President Hassan Rouhani as “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.

Mr Trump sent his Twitter message at 11.24pm and it was directed at Mr Rouhani. In capital letters, he wrote: “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!”. The US president was responding to comments at the weekend by Mr Rouhani that “peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars”.

Later, Mr Trump was asked at the White House if he had any concerns about provoking tensions with Iran. He replied: “None at all.”

The heightened tensions contributed to oil prices rising up to two per cent yesterday before falling back.

In May, the US announced it was withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, aimed at preventing the country developing nuclear weapons.

It is due to reimpose banking sanctions next month, and others strangling Iran’s oil exports in November. Mr Rouhani has warned that, in response, Iran could shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for international oil supplies.

He has also suggested Iran could ramp up its production of uranium.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, said on Saturday that “negotiations with the United States are useless”.

Gholamhossein Gheybparvar, a senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, accused Mr Trump of attempting “psychological warfare”.

He said: “America wants nothing less than to destroy Iran. Trump cannot do a damn thing against Iran.”

Trita Parsi, head of the National Iranian American Council, said the US and Iran appeared to be heading for confrontation rather than dialogue. He said: “The Trump administration’s actions and words are simply not compatible with any policy other than fomenting unrest in and destabilising Iran.”

More optimistic analysts pointed out the rhetoric mirrored that between Mr Trump and Kim Jong-un in the months before they agreed to pursue dialogue.

In the case of North Korea, Mr Trump used apocalyptic language on Twitter as part of his plan to force Kim to the negotiating table.

Seed Leilaz, an Iranian analyst, said the war of words with Iran may prove “the storm before the calm”.

According to US officials, despite the hawkish words, there is little appetite for a conflict with Iran, partly due to the quagmire Iraq became, and also because of the impact on oil prices.

John Bolton, Mr Trump’s national security adviser, who has previously called for air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, said: “President Trump told me that if Iran does anything at all to the negative, they will pay a price like few countries have ever paid.”

 Mr Trump is considering revoking security clearances for six top former intelligence and national security officials from the Obama era who have been publicly critical of him, the White House said last night.

The individuals included James Comey, the former FBI director, and John Brennan, the former CIA director. Sarah Sanders, the White House spokesman, accused them of “politicising” their positions, and in some cases “monetising” them.