Published 17:25 IST, September 21st 2019
Donald Trump says nukes in "tippy-top shape," amid Iran-US tensions
Boasting of the country's nuclear arsenal, Donald Trump in a veiled threat to Iran said that the 'new and renovated' nukes are in 'tippy-top shape.'
- World News
- 4 min read
Boasting of the country's nuclear arsenal, US President Donald Trump in a veiled threat to Iran said that the 'new and renovated' nukes are in 'tippy-top shape.'
Donald Trump's bizarre statement comes amid the plummeting tensions in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters at the White House, US President Trump said that 'no one can beat the US militarily,' when questioned over the Aramco oil facility attack by Iran backed Houthi in Yemen. The attack affected the world's 5% crude oil production.
He said, "Nobody can beat us militarily. No one can even come close." "Our nuclear was getting very tired..Now we have it in, as we would say, tippy-top shape. Tippy top. We have new and we have renovated and it's incredible. We all should pray we never have to use it," Trump added.
The Pentagon announced the deployment of US troops in the Middle East, which they say would be "defensive in nature."
"All-Out War"
Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in an exclusive interview to CNN warned the United States and ally Saudi Arabia of an 'all-out war' in consequence to any attack on Iran. Hassan Rouhani's Foreign Minister also said that Iran would 'defend itself.'
He said, "I think it is important for the Saudi government to understand what they’re trying to achieve. Do they want to fight Iran until the last American soldier? Is that their aim?" He further warned, "They can be assured that this won’t be the case ... because Iran will defend itself." When the media asked him what will be the result if there is a strike by America or Saudi, Zarif replied to the question by saying, "an all-out war."
Locked and loaded
Trump had threatened of a probable military confrontation with Iran on the day when the largest oil facility, Saudi Arabia's Aramco was under attack. In a tweet, that was shared at 4:20 AM (local time), Trump said that the US is "locked and loaded."
Despite the attack being claimed by the rebel group in Yemen, Donald Trump's administration and the House of Saud has accused Tehran of the attack. Saudi Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman had even said that the kingdom is "willing and able" to respond to the "terrorist aggression."
Will Iran and the US go on a war?
Despite the war of words on both ends, on September 16, US President Donald Trump categorically stated that he does not want a war with Iran. Trump said, "I’m somebody that would like not to have war."
Giving a fight over tough talk, even the Iranian President had crowed that a war with Iran is the "mother of all wars" on August 6, however, subsequent to the dismissal of former NSA John Bolton, Iran President had said that the US should move away from "warmongers."
"Americans have to realise that warmongering and warmongers are not to their benefit," Iran President Hassan Rouhani said.
Taking a synchronous stand, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that 'there won't be any war.' He said, "There won't be any war. ... We don't seek war, and [the Americans] don't either. They know it's not in their interests."
Iran-US relations
The story of Washington-Tehran dates back to Donald Trump pulling out of the iconic 2015 Obama nuclear deal of world leaders, that prevented Tehran from acquiring nuclear powers.
The rivalry began back in the 1950s, wherein in a CIA instrumented coup, a pro-US monarch Mohammad Reza Shah was placed as the leader of the Islamic country. However, in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the monarch was overthrown which consequently led to the hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran.
Updated 17:37 IST, September 21st 2019