Trump warns Iran president he ‘better be careful’
US president, Rouhani trade barbs on anniversary of 1979 revolution as Iranian officials dismiss White House’s rhetoric
Donald Trump dialed up the rhetoric against Iran on Friday, warning the country’s president he “better be careful” about his words.
The war-of-words between Tehran and Washington escalated as President Hassan Rouhani and Trump traded threats and warnings.
Rouhani told a crowd of hundreds of thousands marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution that “the Iranian people must be spoken to with respect.”
“Iranians will make those using threatening language against this nation regret it,” he said.
“Anyone threatening Iran’s government and armed forces should know that our nation is vigilant.”
On Thursday Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, told Al Jazeera that the US doesn’t dare carry out its threats against Iran, and if it did there would be “dark days to come.”
“Iran will continue its policies based on friendship and good neighborly ties, therefore Trump and the American administration must get their act together and leave this region completely, because the people of this region feel alienated by their policies,” he said.
Iran’s First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri also commented that despite Trump’s rhetoric toward Iran, “The US cannot do a damn thing.”
Trump was asked about the remarks later, responding that “he better be careful.”
The US president has toughened the rhetoric against Iran considerably since coming to office.
He has also introduced sanctions after an Iranian missile test.
Many in Trump’s inner circle want to see a harder line against Tehran, but have so far shied away from killing a deal that saw Iran get sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear program.
