Iran brushes off Trumps empty threats over missile tests

[mobeau69]

Source: CNBC

A top aide to Iran's supreme leader blamed the "inexperienced" Trump administration for apparent U.S. threats and vowed his country would continue testing ballistic missiles.

"This is not the first time that an inexperienced person has threatened Iran," Velayati said. "Iran is the strongest power in the region and has a lot of political, economic and military power ... America should be careful about making empty threats to Iran."

He added: "Iran will continue to test its capabilities in ballistic missiles and Iran will not ask any country for permission in defending itself."










Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/02/iran-brushes-off-trumps-empty-threats-over-missile-tests.html

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Oh-oh.

[nycbos]

1. If we had an adult as President in a situation...

... where there evidence came about that Iran was cheating on its agreement, a president with experience in international diplomacy would be able to rally our allies to reimpose the sanctions. Now we have a child who angers the Aussies.

[karynnj]

4. Except, the missile tests do NOT violate the nuclear deal - they violate other UN resolutions

My concern is the Iranian statement is - in some ways - as bad as the Trump administration's comment because it is 1) restating they WILL test missiles and 2) calling the team inexperienced. Now, all of us here could think of words worse than "inexperienced" to use to describe Trump, but it seems intended to get under Trump's skin.

[heaven05]

7. Oh, they have to play fair

with the inexperienced bullies(bannon and his boy-potus puppet) ameriKKKa is led by...is that what you're saying? They were playing fair with our last POTUS, but he was sane, rational and a world class diplomat with world class diplomats working with him.

[karynnj]

9. No that is not what I am saying

In fact, BOTH countries have hardliners who would gladly kill the deal. It is the moderates (Obama/Rouhani) who worked very hard to get the deal. People should remember what a long shot the deal was and the hurdles that needed to be finessed on each side. Kerry needed to find a way to make a strong enough deal that Congress, kowtowing to AIPAC, would not kill it. Zarif and Rouhani had similar problems with keeping the Supreme leader on board.

It was a deal, where the other P5 + 1 nations worked very hard, but the toughest role was that of Iran and the US. President Obama showed incredible political courage in calling for these negotiations. I think he was being completely honest when even months before the final deal, he said the chance for success was 50/50. Similarly, Rouhani risked losing power by negotiating with the US. In addition, both were blessed with the most persistent, capable, resourceful negotiators in Kerry and Zarif. Every one of the participants on our side said that it would not have happened without Kerry never letting them give up.

One interesting thing did happen here that seems lost in the more spectacular story. The Trump administration was explicit in saying that this had nothing to do with the nuclear deal ... and Iran also did not threaten to violate THAT agreement. In fact, Trump himself tweeted that Iran should be grateful for that "terrible" deal.

I think Iran, like most of the world, wishes this were the third term of the wonderful President Obama. Unlike our allies, it may be they also see that Trump will so weaken US leadership, that they will benefit in the middle east.

[heaven05]

11. forgive me if I misunderstood

these days I am worried about everything concerning president bannon and his boy-potus puppet fuhrer.

[karynnj]

12. The fault was mine in not clearly stating my concerns in the first one

Like you, I am very concerned about where Trump will take the country. I wish I could count on the Republicans waking up to the danger he poses - otherwise, it will be the world that will have the hard task of trying to keep him under control. Very far from being the leader of the free world!!

My concern was that poking the bear can have bad consequences.

[RegexReader]

15. expect a naval war with Iran

just as a warm up for bigger game later

[Native]

13. Exactly. What they did was simply considered "bold" by Flynn, yet it still warranted a threat?

These people are going to bring about our demise a lot sooner than I'd anticipated.

[ananda]

5. This ought to be it's own twitter thread.

#IfTrumpWereAdult

Bannon would not be anywhere near the WH.

Conway would be playing with Barbies at home.

Tillerson would be crying in his beer, and Putin
would have a pout-tantrum because clean energy
would be given a boost.

Healthcare would not be an issue for anybody.

Our allies would still be allies, and the EU would
not have to worry about Russia.

Nobody would have to worry about being deported
or being disappeared at black sites.

Seniors would feel secure about Medicare and SS.

etc etc etc

[heaven05]

6. there's no one

with experience left in our State Department(diplomatic corp) that will be allowed to be rational, right? We will, with president bannon and his puppet, have a situation where ALL humanity is going to be in jeopardy..I just hope there are cooler heads that will prevail against the head racist and his boy-potus puppet.

[Turbineguy]

2. Not an entirely helpful answer, but

correct. They need to sort out who they are dealing with. Appearances are everything.

[Friend or Foe]

3. One thing that really scares me about this is that

Iran's Supreme Leader appears to have above average hands!

And our "dear leader" doesn't.

[Mosby]

8. the Security Council has opened an investigation

That's what the Iranians need to worry about.

[karynnj]

10. True, but is on their violating a UN resolution that is not related to the nuclear deal

The most hypocritical call for the UN to have consequences for Iran violating a UN resolution was Netanyahu's. After all, Israel just increased the settlements they approved beyond the green line --- and I think that was in violation of a UN resolution too.

That said, I hope the UN persuades Iran to cease tests that they say are designed to protect themselves, not to attack another country.

[Mosby]

14. UNSCR 2231 and the JCPOA are tied together

http://www.un.org/en/sc/2231/