Netanyahu praises Trump's 'tough stand' against Iran

Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has launched an exceptionally raw attack on Iran, in a tone reminiscent of his war on words with North Korea last year - sparking questions about US strategy towards the Islamic republic. The threatening tweet, sent late Sunday and written in all capital letters, was quickly hailed yesterday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised the US leader's "tough stand".

But some analysts warned that Trump's words could backfire if they are not followed up with action. The saber-rattling began when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani cautioned Trump not to "play with the lion's tail", saying that conflict with Iran would be the "mother of all wars" - prompting the furious salvo from the US leader.

"NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE," Trump warned Rouhani. "WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!"

Iranian General Gholam Hossein Gheypour, head of the country's powerful Basij militia, then accused Trump of carrying out "psychological warfare" with his tweets - while saying Trump was "not in a position to act". Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton backed him up yesterday , insisting that the Republican president would make good on his threats, meaning Tehran "could pay the price" for any misstep.

So what do all the warnings and counter-threats mean? For some analysts in Washington, Trump is simply trying to redirect the conversation after a week of dire headlines over his much-maligned summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin and a relative lack of progress on North Korea. "Frustrated by no progress w/NK; angered by negative push back post Helsinki, Trump is looking to vent, act tough, and change channel," said Aaron David Miller, a former US diplomat and Middle East negotiator for several administrations. "If nothing else, Trump's ALL CAPS tirade reflect(s) reality that US has no Iran policy. Empty/ridiculous US rhetoric in response to same from Iran."

'Stop threat inflation'

In May, Trump - who has made Iran his public enemy number one - announced the US withdrawal from what he called a "defective" multinational nuclear deal with Tehran, and moved to reinstate punishing sanctions. Under Trump, many suspect the US government is hoping for regime change in Iran. On Sunday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said only: "Our hope is that ultimately the regime will make meaningful changes in its behavior both inside Iran and globally."

For Miller, the "one/two punch" from Trump and Pompeo showed a "lack of a coherent US policy" on Iran. "US should have 3 redlines for possible military action against Iran; and ridiculous Iranian rhetoric isn't one of them," Miller wrote. "Preventing terror against the US; interruption of oil supply; stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapon. Otherwise stop threat inflation/ridiculous rhetoric."

After speaking with European officials about Trump's warnings, International Crisis Group president Rob Malley said diplomats on the continent were not "really taking it seriously". In Europe, Trump's tirade is seen as a way to distract from controversy over his summit with Putin and the ongoing Mueller investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and a Russian effort to sway the 2016 election. "One can only hope they're right," Malley said.

Saber-rattling

While US ties with Iran and North Korea are different on several fronts, the words used by Trump to denigrate Tehran are similar in tone to those he directed a little more than a year ago at North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Several observers noted the similarities between the threats on Iran, and Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign towards Pyongyang. In Sept 2017, in his first speech to the United National General Assembly, Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea.

Nearly a year on, Trump has met Kim - who he once called "Rocket Man" on a "suicide mission" - for a landmark summit in Singapore, and follow-up talks are underway between the two sides. However, concrete progress has been scant so far on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula - a goal Kim pledged to work towards. Yesterday, Trump took aim at The Washington Post for highlighting the lack of solid results and reporting, citing unnamed officials, that the US president was frustrated by it. "The Fake News is saying, without ever asking me (always anonymous sources), that I am angry because it is not going fast enough. Wrong, very happy!" he tweeted.

Netanyahu's remarks came hours before a meeting with top Russian officials on Iran and the situation in Syria, where Moscow-backed regime forces have been battering rebels in the south for more than a month. "I would like to praise the tough stand expressed yesterday by President Trump and Secretary of State (Mike) Pompeo against the aggression of the Iranian regime," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting. "Over the years, this regime has been spoiled by the major powers and it is good to see that the US is changing this unacceptable equation."

Tehranis skeptical

Tehranis yesterday said they were deeply skeptical at Washington's claims that it stood with them against their government. "It's true that at the moment our society is in a crisis and under pressure that is creating discontent," said Haleh, a child psychologist in the north Tehran suburb of Jordan. "But we don't want the West to impose a revolution that can lead to disorder," she added.

Pompeo gave a much-hyped speech in California on Sunday in which he described Iran's government as "a nightmare for the Iranian people". He announced an intensified American propaganda campaign so that "ordinary Iranians inside Iran and around the globe can know that America stands with them." Tehran reacted to Pompeo's speech as an interference in Tehran's affairs, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. "Such policies will unite Iranians who will overcome plots against their country," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said.

Many Iranians - even those opposed to the current system - fear what they see as a push for regime change, especially after the US pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal and announced it was re-imposing crippling financial sanctions. "People want change, but not necessarily a change of regime," said office worker Firouzeh. "It's been 40 years since the last revolution and we are still paying the price. An entire generation has paid the price. Do they really want another revolution?"

Regardless of how they view their government, Iranians are at least glad to have been spared the violence engulfing much of the region. "For us, the most important thing is security, and for now we have security. We must have reforms, but people hope it happens without violence so that everyone wins," said Haleh, the psychologist. Others felt a deal was still possible with the US president. "Trump is a businessman," said Amir, who said he did multiple jobs to get by in Iran's struggling economy. He'll make an offer and we'll reach a mutual agreement, with God's help."

He said all Iranians were worried about the economy, with large-scale unemployment, rising prices and a currency that has dropped to record lows against the dollar. "The government must listen to the problems of the people. It can be done, it's not impossible," said Amir. "But Iranians will not accept being forced (by outside powers). They will react to defend their national honor and dignity," he added. - Agencies