James S. Robbins, USA Today: Donald Trump takes North Korea approach to reopen Iran negotiations — Mullahs should listen
Despite all-caps Tweets between Donald Trump and Iran's foreign minister, there are few options for Tehran. Military action isn't one of them.
Monday morning President Trump tweeted out an all-caps warning to Tehran not to try America’s patience. “NEVER EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN,” Mr. Trump warned, “OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKE OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE.” Responded Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, “COLOR US UNIMPRESSED.”
The upper-case exchange followed a series of statements from Iran indicating the possibility of armed confrontation in the Persian Gulf. Earlier this month President Hassan Rouhani said that if the United States persisted in its efforts to cut Iran’s oil exports, Tehran would see to it that no country in the region would be able to export oil. This was widely seen as a threat to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which a third of global oil exports flow, and a move Iran has threatened before.
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WNU Editor: President Trump is leaving the door open for Iran .... Trump says U.S. ready to make a 'real deal' on Iran’s nuclear program (Reuters). My prediction .... Iran is not interested in dealing with the U.S. for now. Next year may be a different story.
