Escalating rhetoric between Washington and Tehran

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Iran's state-owned news agency has dismissed US President Donald Trump's warning tweet, issued all in capital letters, to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, describing it as a "passive reaction" to Rouhani's remarks.

The IRNA news agency said on Monday that Trump's Twitter message was only mimicking and copying Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif who had in the past warned the West to "never threaten an Iranian."

Trump on Sunday hit back at bellicose comments by Iran's president, warning him of consequences "the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered," as the US intensifies its campaign against the Islamic republic.

Screenshot of Trump's tweet

"NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE," Trump said on Twitter in a direct message to President Hassan Rouhani, who earlier Sunday warned Trump not to "play with the lion's tail," saying that conflict with Iran would be the "mother of all wars."

Read more: Iran's Rouhani warns Trump: 'War with Iran mother of all wars'

The US president, writing his entire message in capital letters, continued his riposte: "WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!"

Iranian officer: Iran will resist Trump's 'psychological warfare'

A high-ranking Iranian officer says Trump's warning of unprecedented "consequences" for Iran, should it threaten the US, is nothing but "psychological warfare."

"We will never abandon our revolutionary beliefs ... we will resist pressure from enemies... America wants nothing less than (to) destroy Iran ... (but) Trump cannot do a damn thing against Iran," ISNA reported Gholamhossein Gheybparvar as saying.

Iranian lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said that he doubted it would come to a military confrontation between Iran and the US, despite the escalating rhetoric.

Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei speaks during his meeting with Iranian ambassadors and heads of Iran's missions abroad, in Tehran on Iran, July 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

Falahatpisheh says that Trump and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani "express themselves through speeches since diplomatic channels are closed" as the two countries have had no diplomatic relations since 1979.

He says that unlike the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), "Iran never moved toward a nuclear bomb" and that therefore, "Iran is angry since Trump responded to Tehran's engagement diplomacy by pulling the US out of the nuclear deal."

Pompeo: US not 'afraid to tackle' Iran

Trump's comments Sunday night came after his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a major address to the Iranian diaspora in California, said the US is not "afraid to tackle" the Iranian officials with sanctions at the "highest level" of its government.

"We weren't afraid to tackle the regime at its highest level," Pompeo said in a speech at the Reagan Foundation, referring to sanctions leveled against Sadeq Larijani, the head of Iran's judiciary.

Pompeo also confirmed that Washington wants all countries to reduce their imports of Iranian oil "as close to zero as possible" by Nov. 4 or face American sanctions.

"There's more to come," Pompeo said of the US financial penalties.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Trump listen during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, US on July 18, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Speaking to a California audience composed mostly of Iranian-Americans, Pompeo affirmed support by Washington for protesters in the Islamic republic.

Washington's top diplomat announced an intensified American propaganda campaign, with the launch of a multimedia channel with 24-hour coverage on television, radio and social media.

Iran said on Monday Pompeo's speech was interference in its affairs, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

"Pompeo's speech on Sunday was a clear interference in Iran's state matters... such policies will unite Iranians who will overcome plots against their country," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said.

Trump, on May 8, decided to restore all the sanctions that had been lifted as part of a multi-national agreement, signed by former President Barack Obama's administration in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear program.

Other parties to the agreement, including Iran, maintain their support for that hard-won deal and are using all possible means to save it.

(Sources: agencies)