As tensions continue to rise between Iran and the U.S., the Islamic Republic’s leaders have threatened to restart its nuclear program and blatantly violate some of the terms of the international nuclear agreement it agreed to in 2015.
President Donald Trump recently responded to that threat from Iran with a vague yet unmistakable warning to the country’s leaders: Their threats could soon come back to haunt them.
Taking the next steps
Breitbart reported that Iran recently announced that it was prepared to exceed the maximum enrichment level for uranium as specified in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the Iran nuclear deal.
The deal was signed by former President Barack Obama. Trump abandoned it in May 2018.
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran has already violated the 300 kilogram limit on stockpiled enriched uranium, a key ingredient needed for producing nuclear weapons.
Iran also announced that it would “definitely take the next steps” to violate other terms of the deal, perhaps as soon as in the next few days.
President Trump responded with a tweet on Wednesday warning Iran President Hassan Rouhani that his threats could soon “come back to bite” him in an unprecedented way.
Trump tweeted:
Iran has just issued a New Warning. Rouhani says that they will Enrich Uranium to “any amount we want” if there is no new Nuclear Deal. Be careful with the threats, Iran. They can come back to bite you like nobody has been bitten before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019
Europe chimes in
Though lacking in the same tough resolve exuded by Trump, the diplomatic chiefs of key European nations and alliances also pleaded with Iran to strongly reconsider its decision to violate the terms of the JCPOA.
France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the European Union released a joint statement, which read in part: “We urge Iran to reverse this step and to refrain from further measures that undermine the nuclear deal.”
Whether Iran accedes to the pleas for caution from Europe or decides to see if Trump is bluffing remains to be seen, but President Trump has made it pretty clear he isn’t messing around.
And there are certainly enough U.S. military assets in the Middle East region to “bite” Iran, if needed.