Iran’s Pres. Hassan Rouhani threatened the U.S. that it could face the “mother of all wars” should it attack Iran. He also warned that if the U.S. closed down his country’s oil exports, he would consider closing the Persian Gulf to all oil shipments. This would disrupt commerce for all nations bordering the Gulf, including its mortal enemy, Saudi Atabia.
Donald Trump, not one to bullied in a public setting, fired back in his own inimitable all-caps Twitter-rant style:
To Iranian President Rouhani: 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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2018
We’ve seen this movie before: when the U.S. president reacted to a similar threat from North Korea. Here’s how he answered:
This reminds me of the time Trump threatened North Korea with “fire and fury” and went all the way to Singapore to meet with Kim Jong Un and came back with nothing but a piece of paper and a broken promise. pic.twitter.com/NgROiDFUOb
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) July 23, 2018
What was the result? A summit for the North Korean at which he got to shine on the world stage in return for…nothimg.
So we’re supposed to believe that after Trump was played by Kim, that he will let loose the Tomahawk missiles on Iran?
Hey, that movie flopped the first time. The remake won’t be much better; likely much worse.
The main difference between North Korea and Iran is that the former has a powerful ally, China. When faced with such military and economic power Trump invariably folds. Iran on the other hand has no similar ally. Russia perhaps, though the bonds are far less strong between them. So should Trump want to go full-nucjear on Iran, as his largest donor, Sheldon Adelson, has long urged, Trump would face much less opposition.
Trump has been told to start a war with Iran — but we can’t just do it,
Even though there’s only one way this can end, we still have to go through this charade first. A veil of justification has to be woven before we can start bombing.
To be more precise, Khameini has rejected renewed negotiations with the United States, and Rouhani has threatened to close the Straits of Hormuz.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2018/07/21/Khamenei-rejects-talks-with-US-applauds-Rouhani-threat-to-close-Strait-of-Hormuz.html
And truth be told, it is unlikely that Iran could carry out it’s threat to close the Straits.
But really. What sounds worse, Trump’s stern warnings to Iran, or the mullahs childish tantrums?
It is Trump who is behaving childishly, as usual. Iran is not going to attack the US: Iran has not attacked another state for hundreds of years.
But the possibility that the US and/or Israel will attack Iran is high under Trump. An attack on Iran has been the aim of the neocons for decades. Iran has given a sober and appropriate response to Trump’s threats.
@dgfincham
“Iran has not attacked another state for hundreds of years, ”
https://www.commentarymagazine.com/foreign-policy/middle-east/iran/iran-never-started-war/
Really?
Rouhani is threatening to violate the ‘freedom of the Seas’, in opposition to the head of Iran’s Navy, and Trump is behaving childishly?
@ Frank: Commentary Magazine is a lying sack of s*** source. Not worth the paper it’s not written on. Don’t offer it here on any account.
National survival trumps freedom of the seas I’m afraid.
@Frank: after torching the nuclear deal, what is there to talk about with Trump? Where and when to capitulate?
As for closing the straits, I’d say strangling an entire nation gives Iran more than enough justification for doing whatever it must do to survive. So you won’t get any traction for that accusation.
As for childish ranting, Trump has the market cornered on that I’m afraid. The Iranians seem almost adult and mature by comparison.
trump has proven to be a genius to create agreements (in his own mind) as he purports to be
please name ONE SINGLE AGREEMENT HE HAS SIGNED WITH ANY COUNTRY SINCE DAY ONE OF HIS REIGN. NONE THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED VALID AS A CREATOR of anything posiitive
Why the strong urge to defend Iran regardless of its action?
Has the left learnt nothing from 100 years of supporting enemies of the West at any cost?
How come you see evil at any in any Israeli activity and holiness in any Iranian’s?
@ Lior Azar:
That’s false. I do not defend Iran “regardless of its actions.” I defend Iran when other nations attempt to bully it into submission. There are many aspect of the Iranian regime and its policies with which I disagree. But on one thing I fully agree with Iran: that it is a sovereign country entitled to defend itself and protect both its survival and interests, especially when they are threatened.
That is a lie and a calumny. I reject it absolutely. You are now moderated.
This is utter dreck. You are an ass.
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richard remember the holocaust memorial
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
that is the reason we speak for iran, for one day they will come for you and then what?
@ N. dayan: If I had a Like button for comments I would Like yours!
hand in hand bibi and trump shall lead us to destruction, then bds will not matter for rubbles will reign alongside putin as the world new emperor (emperor had no cloth, putin shirtless pic. )
i only have one thing for the big TR. if you feel empowered and powerful enough put your money where your huuuuuge mouth is else shut the f. it is annoying to hear day in day out nothing but inane and useless trump blablas.
on the one hand i do not wish for it to happen on the other i do for it will end the ugly rhetoric we have been bombarded with since Obama day one and bibi’s day one after “the arabs are voting the arabs are voting” (will the arabs be allowed to vote afte this new law????)
‘…So we’re supposed to believe that after Trump was played by Kim, that he will let loose the Tomahawk missiles on Iran?’
I believe he would. I’ll be happy to be proved wrong; but I believe he would.
In fact, I think it’s just a matter of establishing the necessary pretexts.