Donald Trump’s national Security advisor Michael Flynn, a retired Army general and former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, called Iran’s testing of a medium-range ballistic missile test and attacks by proxies on a Saudi frigate a ‘provocative’ act.
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During the White House’s daily briefing, Flyn stated that Iran has “destabilizing behavior across the Middle East.” He also censured it by saying “The Trump administration condemns such actions by Iran that undermine security, prosperity, and stability throughout and beyond the Middle East and place American lives at risk,”
He went on to say that Iran is being ungrateful to the U.S. and to the Obama administration’s agreements to lift economic sanctions on a condition that Iran will not build up nuclear weapons.
Michael Flynn cryptically stated, “As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice.”
The missile testing combined with the Houthi attack, “underscore what should have been clear to the international community all along about Iran’s destabilizing behavior across the Middle East,” Flynn said. “These are just the latest” incidents of Houthi rebels striking Iranian-trained and armed militants, he pointed out. The Houthi armed faction “threatened US and allied vessels transiting the Red Sea.
”Trump has “severely criticized” deals between Washington and Tehran, such as the nuclear arms reduction deal, Flynn said, adding that the agreements have been “weak and ineffective” while warning that “Iran is now feeling emboldened.”
Donald Trump also posted Flynn’s full statement on Facebook:
Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has denied any violation as a result of the test and warned Washington over escalating tensions, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
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“We hope that Iran’s defense programs — which are out of the sphere of the Resolution 2231 and the nuclear deal — will not become a pretext for political games,” Zarif said.
Fars News also quoted Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Dehqan as saying that “The recent test was in line with our programs and we don’t allow any foreign party to interfere in our defense affairs.”