President Donald Trump on Sunday night tweeted a threatening message to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, using all-caps, a style which is normally reserved for emergencies or screaming.
To Iranian President Rouhani: 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 & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Earlier on Sunday, Rouhani said in a speech (see: Iran’s President: Mr. Trump, War With Iran Would Be the Mother of All Wars), “The Americans must fully understand that peace with Iran is the mother of all the peace, and war with Iran would be the mother of all wars.”
“We don’t give in to threats but stand up to bullying,” Rouhani said, adding, “One who understands politics even a little bit wouldn’t say ‘we will stop Iran’s oil exports,’” and warning that the Strait of Hormuz is only one of the straits that Iran has control over.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a speech before Iranian-Americans in California, attacked Iran’s rulers, calling them a “mafia.” Pompeo promised US aid to Iranians who would rise up against their government officials, whom he said were “merely polished front men for the ayatollahs’ international con artistry.”