Iran Should Beware Of President Trump's Threats

In this Wednesday, April 15, 2020, photo made available by the US Navy, Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels sail close to US ships in the Arabian Gulf near Kuwait. All Photos supplied by US Navy

Con Coughlin, The National: Hit by coronavirus, Iran should beware of Donald Trump's threats

The regime in Tehran is in the midst of a major crisis, one where provoking a fresh confrontation with the US is not going to help its chances of survival.

US President Donald Trump’s warning to the Iranian government that he has ordered the US Navy to destroy any of its gunboats caught harassing American warships comes at a time when the regime in Tehran is facing arguably its greatest crisis since the 1979 revolution.

Mr Trump’s threat intensifies the pressure on Iran when it is already struggling to contend with a number of major challenges, from the coronavirus pandemic to the collapse of the economy.

Now the regime finds itself facing the prospect of a fresh military confrontation with the US following Mr Trump’s warning, which came after accusations that Iranian gunboats have been harassing American warships in the Gulf.

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WNU Editor: This is not the time to provoke the United States. In the past Iran may have deflected domestic dissent by stirring up tensions abroad. But these are not normal times, and Iran is not in a position to confront anyone directly right now.