Iran Rejects Trump's 'Provocative' Warning as U.S. Leader Slams Nuclear Deal
Iran on Thursday rejected a warning from President Donald Trump over its latest missile test as unfounded and "provocative," reflecting growing tensions between Tehran and the new U.S. administration.
Trump is a strident critic of the Islamic republic and a vocal opponent of an international deal that saw Iran curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
He said on Thursday that Tehran was now officially "on notice" after Sunday's missile test.
"Iran has been formally PUT ON NOTICE for firing a ballistic missile.Should have been thankful for the terrible deal the U.S. made with them!" Trump tweeted, echoing similar comments by National Security Advisor Michael Flynn a day earlier.
Flynn insisted that the missile test was "in defiance of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231," which calls on Iran not to test missiles capable of delivering a nuclear weapon.
The remarks drew an angry response from Tehran.
"Claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor are baseless, repetitive and provocative," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said, quoted by state news agency IRNA.
Iran has confirmed that it tested a ballistic missile, but denied that it violated the terms of the nuclear deal.
Tehran says its missiles do not breach U.N. resolutions because they are for defense purposes only and are not designed to carry nuclear warheads.
The row comes against a backdrop of already difficult relations over Trump's travel ban on citizens from Iran and six other Muslim-majority countries.
- 'Sinister intentions' -
The U.S. warning prompted a defiant response from Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.
"The number of Iranian missiles, warships and defense missile launchers is growing every day, and the sky, land and sea is under the control of this nation," said General Hossein Salami, the number two in the Guards which is in charge of weapons programs.
"This is not a land where an outsider can set foot with sinister intentions," he said.
Iran has missiles with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles), sufficient to reach Israel as well as U.S. bases in the region.
There has been scant detail from the White House as to what its warning over the missile test means in practical terms, and it remains to be seen if Washington will push for new sanctions.
Ghasemi said that the U.S. warning came at a time when "the efforts by the Islamic Republic of Iran in fighting terrorist groups in the Middle East are known to all."
"It is regrettable that the U.S .administration, instead of appreciating the nation of Iran for its continued fight against terrorism, is in practice aiding terrorist groups by repeating baseless claims and adopting unwise measures."
He referred to Syrian rebel groups which "directly or indirectly receive financial, logistic and intelligence support by the U.S. and its partners."
Ghasemi dismissed charges of Iranian meddling in the region, saying Tehran wanted good relations with its neighbors based on "mutual respect and non-interference in countries' domestic affairs."
02 February 2017, 15:47
412
Mr. Trump, I hope you remember me. I am norma and I did some modeling for your agency in New York. After the fashion show, we met at Trump Tower and talked about Iran's nuclear deal.
I am so glad you are doing the right thing and your middle name is not Houthian.
02 February 2017, 17:21
143
If Mr. Trump turns out to be a racist, such as a hater of Iranians or Shias, he is in for a rough time. Racism is obsolete.
02 February 2017, 20:56
00
Sure Chris Mr. Trump racism against Iranians or Shias is obsolete, but Mr. Trump racism against Mexicans, Blacks, Arabs or Muslims in general is in vogue. I commend you and your Mr. Trump on your open mindlessness.
02 February 2017, 18:10
39
Terrorist
the guy is not all there;) but he has done a few good things so far.
02 February 2017, 18:39
38
Putin just rekindled the Ukraine front and raised the stakes for Trump to see how he reacts.
02 February 2017, 18:40
102
in another word! when he stated clearly that he would eliminate ISIS, you didn't agree with him but when he turned against the ones who are fighting ISIS and stoped threatening it, you agree.. we already know your bad nature ya takfiri lover, anyway!
02 February 2017, 18:42
29
southern, you are a nuisance! Who in the world was against Trump when he stated he would eliminate ISIS?
Act as a grown up for once!
02 February 2017, 18:54
28
ya shebeib, these farsi iranians could care less about Trump eliminating ISIS. All they care about is he does not touch their country, Iran.
devil worshipers!
02 February 2017, 16:34
132
Well it is fun to see you Saudis lick Trump all the time in a certain place.
02 February 2017, 16:40
310
but why are you concerned? You said today on another article that your" Iran has been planning for a war with the U.S. since year 1979."
You've had plenty of time to prepare and you should not be worried, right?
02 February 2017, 16:48
102
What does this comment got to do with that? It is obvious to see that Saudis worships Trump and licks his shoes crystal clean.
02 February 2017, 16:10
113
but the guilty of 9/11 terror attack are the neighbours....
anyway, glad that the dragon is approaching!
02 February 2017, 16:35
122
Don't forget the protests against Trump, his own people don't like him. Only the Saudis and Israelis do.
02 February 2017, 16:37
311
During the election campaign you and al manar were singing his praises; what gives?
02 February 2017, 16:46
112
Not once did I write anything good about Trump. I knew he was a Zionist just as all American Presidents are.
02 February 2017, 16:48
311
Mystic:
I would have thought you as true 'Lebanese Patriot' would be Trump's biggest supporter. Trump has asked the Pentagon to devise a plan within 30 days on how to destroy ISIS and the Takfiris. He is also going to establish safe zones inside Syria so those 'Salafis' and heart eating monsters that you always talk about would no longer be able to take civilians as human shields like they did in Aleppo, the way you put it.
Do you see my point ya follower of wilayat al faqih?
02 February 2017, 16:55
112
let's put it right ya Takfiri lovers.
If Trump wanted in his campaign to destroy ISIS that was fine, but if he now wants to favour KSA the source of terrorism, then it's his fault, not ours.
take note all of you, really narrow-minded!
02 February 2017, 17:00
38
the article is not about KSA your eternal nemesis ya heretic. It is about Iran and Trump's actions towards Iran. So, stay put and focus.
02 February 2017, 17:07
112
really idiot! but your cowboy now is favouring the source of terrorism like you, so you have to keep screaming, stay tuned with China.
02 February 2017, 17:09
49
when the Southern takes a road, the road ends, but the Southern continues>>>>>>>>> and falls of the cliff.
02 February 2017, 17:16
112
If that were the case, we would've eagledown copy paste all my so called comments about that.
Here's none because I never in my life will praise any American President, they are the enemy of Resistance.
02 February 2017, 17:17
39
the takiah iranian says "If Trump wanted in his campaign to destroy ISIS that was fine, but if he now wants to favour KSA the source of terrorism, then it's his fault, not ours."
What if Trump wants to destroy ISIS and Iran which happens to be the godfather of ISIS, how does that sit with you?
02 February 2017, 17:22
310
so now you use @Eagle as a reference as to whether you practiced Takiah lies or not? The funniest thing I've ever read:)!
02 February 2017, 17:26
92
Said the Saudi that claims to be christian lebanese.
You know for a fact, even Geagea supporters don't mention sects within Islam, they mention all islam sects as Muslims.
Even there you are exposed, you are not a christian, now that is the real lie.
Just like texaszionist denying supporting Israel in a comment that Naharnet so luckily removed for him.
02 February 2017, 17:27
92
because simply Iran is not the godfather of ISIS, worldwide, they know that KSA and America of GW Bush are they ones who gave birth to ISIS, even some American leaders acknowlege that fact.. are you under drug influence, btw.
02 February 2017, 17:28
39
"they are the enemy of Resistance."
Not according to Mr. Joh Kerry.
"At another point, Mr. Kerry spelled out in stark terms distinctions the United States was making between combatants, which have upset the Syrian opposition: The United States wants the rebels to help it fight the Islamic State and Al Qaeda because, as he put it, “both have basically declared war on us.” But Washington will not join the same rebels in fighting Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia allied with Mr. Assad, even though the United States lists Hezbollah as a terrorist group like the others.
“Hezbollah,” Mr. Kerry explained, “is not plotting against us.”
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/30/world/middleeast/john-kerry-syria-audio.html?_r=0
02 February 2017, 17:32
102
Here Southern I have gifts for you. Good job countering those Saudi American jews.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOwPxoO8rsk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShnuuqYyots
03 February 2017, 06:01
02
Southern...... 13 hours ago
it's not a question who was fighting ( the USA )
Southern, your Sistani in Iraq issued a Fatwa specifically barring any of you to fight the invading U.S and British forces at the time :)
02 February 2017, 16:49
102
all that didn't serve even to finish the war against Afghanistan nor Iraq or Vietnam which have much less military resources than China, you see now who's illiterate ya narrow-minded takfiri lover.
02 February 2017, 16:57
38
who was fighting the Americans in Iraq or Afghanistan, you or the "Takfiris"? I see, now you are siding with the Takfiris;))!
02 February 2017, 17:02
102
it's not a question who was fighting but to judge the value the Usa's military capacity, that couldn't achieve any victory.... try to think before of spewing rubbish.
02 February 2017, 17:10
102
"US trying to rebuild a country" !!!! HaHaHa
so, you mean when the marines went to Iraq raping their young girls, looting their bank and museum, is to build the country... very low and subhuman you are.
02 February 2017, 17:20
310
wow, you are as powerful as the President of the United States.
02 February 2017, 17:47
36
"As of today, my wife and I are officially putting our neighbor on notice."
Is she as mentally challenged as you are?
02 February 2017, 18:59
17
lol @flametroller
how do you argue with 'brains' eaten away by the cancer of wilayat al faqih.
you dont.
02 February 2017, 19:05
26
and how much 'outsmarting' did @bigjohn's comment need or is trolling your only function on this forum?
02 February 2017, 19:10
26
flamethrower......... MF ( My Friend )
I don't know what it is about you, but your aura subconsciously reminds me of Sigmund Freud.
02 February 2017, 19:23
25
@flamerotten is not only a certified shia iranian troll but he also is a qualified psychiatrist.
02 February 2017, 19:27
101
totally agree with bigjohn, Trump is spewing trash, too much trash, therefore he is putting everybody on notice... this is the kind of "president" that the American people deserve, trash
keep tuned on China!
02 February 2017, 20:03
60
it is not meddling, Iraq asked Iran for help to eradicate America's creation terrorists, just search for Hilary Clinton statements, then you would learn that Usa was the primery guilty for bringing Al Qaeda / ISIS to Iraq.... just try to learn, although hard-head.
