Jul 23, 2018

The Iranian and American presidents have issued threats to one another in a sign of increasing tensions between their countries.

During a speech to Iranian officials July 22, President Hassan Rouhani said the United States is pursuing regime collapse and disintegration against Iran. He added, “America should know that peace with Iran is the mother of peace, and war will be the mother of wars. We will not accept threats, and we have deterrent capabilities.”

Shortly afterward, US President Donald Trump responded to Rouhani’s speech, tweeting in all capital letters, “To the Iranian President: 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 and death. Be cautious!” Interestingly, Trump’s tweet followed shortly after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed a group of Iranian Americans in southern California in a speech advertised as “Supporting Iranian Voices.” The speech was largely uneventful.

Trump’s tweet and Pompeo’s speech elicited strong reactions in Tehran.

Online, many Iranians tweeted with the hashtag #StopMeddlinginIran. Their comments focused on US support for groups that have carried out attacks against Iran, US withdrawal from the nuclear deal and sanctions against Iran. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Expediency Council, tweeted, “Mr. Trump told Mr. Rouhani be cautious. You who have more than 50,000 troops under the Iranian blade, and you make threats like a madman. You must be cautious.”