AFP |
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday the “genocidal taunts” of US President Donald Trump will not “end Iran”, as tensions spike between the two countries. “Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. Economic terrorism and genocidal taunts won’t ‘end Iran’,” Zarif wrote on Twitter.
Goaded by #B_Team, @realdonaldTrump 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!
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) May 20, 2019
“Never threaten an Iranian. Try respect – it works!” he added. In another tweet, Zarif accused Trump of allowing his team to “trash diplomacy” and “abet war crimes – by milking despotic butchers via massive arms sales”.
.@realDonaldTrump rightly deplores "military-industrial complex" pushing U.S. to #ForeverWars
But allowing #B_Team to trash diplomacy & abet war crimes—by milking despotic butchers via massive arms sales—achieves nothing but empowering that same complex.
Time to #DrainTheSwamp?
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) May 20, 2019
The riposte by Iran’s top diplomat followed an ominous warning by Trump, who on Sunday suggested the Islamic republic would be destroyed if it attacked US interests. “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again,” Trump tweeted.
If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2019
On Monday evening Trump, who is seen on blowing hot and cold on Iran, appeared to play down the immediate threat posed by Iran while saying he is ready to talk if Tehran takes the first step. Trump’s latest comments appeared aimed at dialing back fears that his administration is pushing for war.
….Iran will call us if and when they are ever ready. In the meantime, their economy continues to collapse – very sad for the Iranian people!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2019
“We have no indication that anything’s happened or will happen,” he told reporters at the White House when asked about the Iranian threat to US interests, adding: “We have no indication that they will.” A Senator close to Trump, Lindsey Graham, warned Iran of an “overwhelming military response” for any actions against US interests.
‘Rising war rhetoric’
Relations between Washington and Tehran plummeted a year ago when Trump pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and imposed tough sanctions. Iranian officials have repeatedly slammed the unilateral US sanctions as “economic terrorism,” saying that they have impeded the flow of essential goods.
Read More: Trump walks out of ‘Iran Nuclear Deal’
Tensions have risen further this month with Washington announcing more economic measures against Tehran, before deploying a carrier group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf over unspecified alleged Iranian “threats”. The Trump administration last week ordered non-essential diplomatic staff out of Iraq, citing the danger posed by Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groups.
On Sunday a rocket was fired into the Green Zone of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, which houses government offices and embassies including the US mission. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. While the US claim of Iranian “threats” has been met with widespread skepticism outside the United States, the mounting tensions have sparked growing international concern.
Read More: Huthi attack led to closing Saudi oil pipelines
“I would say to the Iranians, do not underestimate the resolve on the US side in the situation,” British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt told reporters on Monday in Geneva. “They don’t want a war with Iran, but if American interests are attacked they will retaliate,” he added.
The United Nations expressed concern about the “rising rhetoric”. “We would ask all parties to lower the rhetoric and lower the threshold of action as well,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Trump being ‘Goaded’ into war against Iran
US media reports say Trump’s hawkish national security adviser John Bolton is pushing for war with Iran, but others in the administration are resisting.
Read More: US-Iran tensions, Mike Pompeo clarifies US does not seek a war with iran
Zarif’s tweet said Trump is being “goaded by B Team,” a term he coined to refer to Bolton as well as Israel’s prime minister and the crown princes of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who are all pushing a hard line on Tehran.
Read More: US-Iran brewing tensions: King Salman calls on regional stakeholders
Before Trump’s Twitter threat, Zarif had downplayed the prospect of a new war in the region, saying Tehran opposed it and nobody was under the “illusion” the Islamic republic could be confronted. Iran is exercising “maximum restraint” in the face of an “unacceptable” escalation by the United States, Zarif said on Thursday.
Tensions have risen further this month with Washington announcing more economic measures against Tehran, before deploying a carrier group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf over unspecified alleged Iranian “threats”
Tehran has threatened to gradually withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal unless partners still in the agreement – Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia – help it to circumvent US sanctions. Saudi Arabia on Saturday called for emergency regional talks to discuss the mounting Gulf tensions.
It came days after mysterious sabotage attacks on several tankers in highly sensitive Gulf waters and drone strikes on a Saudi crude pipeline by Yemen rebels, who Riyadh claimed were acting on Iranian orders.
Read More: Sabotage attempt at Saudi oil tankers alarmed authorities
Saudi Arabia’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, said Sunday his country does not want to go to war with Iran — but would defend itself. Saudi Arabia “does not want a war, is not looking for it and will do everything to prevent it,” he said.
Read More: Saudis say: “we don’t want war; but will defend ourselves”
“But at the same time, if the other side chooses war, the kingdom will respond with strength and determination to defend itself and its interests.”
AFP story with additional input by GVS news desk