Trump Issues Fiery
Response After Iranian President Threatens U.S.
ByHank Berrien
July 23, 2018
On Sunday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned
President Trump about escalating a confrontation with Iran, asserting that such
an action would lead to the "mother of all wars.” Al Jazeera reported that
Rouhani, referencing an idea that the U.S. might attempt to block Iran from
exporting its crude oil, added, "Do not play with the lion's tail or else
you will regret it.”
Trump issued a fiery, blistering response to Rouhani:
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!
Al Jazera reported on July 5
that Rouhani seemed to imply Iran might block the Strait of Hormuz if Iran’s
exports were blocked. A U.S. energy department report stated that at least 18.5
million barrels of oil traveled every day in 2016 through that waterway; one-third of the
world’s sea-borne oil travels through the Strait every day. The great bulk of
the crude exported from Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait
and Iraq pass through the Strait, as well as virtually all the liquefied
natural gas (LNG) from lead exporter Qatar.
Rouhani continued, "Is it possible that everyone in
the region sells their oil and we stand idly by and watch? Do not forget that
we have maintained the security of this waterway [Strait of Hormuz] throughout
history. We have historically secured the route of oil transit. Do not forget
it.”
The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, has the job of
protecting the commercial ships in the area.
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