US kid gloves come off vs. Iran

‘Playing with fire’ on missile test: Trump

President Trump turned up the heat on Iran Friday, imposing sanctions and warning the Islamic Republic that it faces further punishment.

“Iran is playing with fire — they don’t appreciate how ‘kind’ President Obama was to them. Not me!” Trump tweeted, taking a shot at the Iranian nuclear deal cut by the Obama administration.

Trump later imposed sanctions on 13 people and a dozen companies in response to Iran’s recent ballistic missile test, which the United States charged was a violation of a UN resolution.

The moves ratcheted up the pressure on Tehran without directly undercutting the nuclear deal.

Those targeted by the Treasury Department’s action include various agents, companies and associates who provided the country with ballistic missile technology.

“The international community has been too tolerant of Iran’s bad behavior,” said Michael Flynn, Trump’s national security adviser. “The days of turning a blind eye to Iran’s hostile and belligerent actions toward the United States and the world community are over.”

The order barred certain Iranian, Lebanese, Chinese and Emirati individuals and companies from doing business in the US or with American citizens.

The sanctions are the first against Iran in Trump’s presidency, and reflect his vow to take a tougher stance toward the country, which the United States believes is a major sponsor of regional and international terrorism.

During his campaign, Trump railed against Obama for being weak on Iran, and he promised a crackdown if elected.

None of the new sanctions appears to reverse the Obama administration’s suspension of sanctions as part of the 2015 nuclear deal.

Nevertheless, the action will al- most surely increase tensions with Tehran.

Iran has insisted the latest sanctions violate the deal and that it has the right to conduct ballistic missile tests now that its nuclear program has been sharply curtailed.

The US and Western countries argue otherwise, noting Tehran agreed in 2015 to an eight-year extension of a ban on ballistic work in negotiations separate from the nuclear accord.