Leader in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard labels Trump Twitter warning ‘psychological warfare’

A top commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Monday that President Trump’s overnight Twitter warning to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani amounts to “psychological warfare.” 

Gholamhossein Gheybparvar said America wants to “destroy Iran,” but Trump “cannot do a damn thing,” Reuters reported, citing Iranian news agency ISNA. 

{mosads}”We will never abandon our revolutionary beliefs,” Gheybparvar added, according to the news service. “We will resist pressure from enemies.” 

“America wants nothing less than (to) destroy Iran,” he continued. “Trump cannot do a damn thing against Iran.” 

Trump on Sunday night tweeted an all-caps message directed towards Rouhani.

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

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

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2018

The tweet came shortly after Rouhani told a group of Iranian diplomats that Trump’s aggressive posture toward Iran could lead to “the mother of all wars.”

Trump in May withdrew the United States from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal. The deal limited Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting international oil and financial sanctions, but Trump’s decision to walk away from the agreement has left Iran vulnerable to reinstated sanctions. 

The Trump administration’s strategy toward Iran has focused on attacking Tehran as corrupt and exploitative. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in remarks on Sunday compared the Iranian government to the “mafia” and said its religious leaders are “hypocritical holy men.” 

Pompeo offered support for the Iranian protesters who have taken to the streets in recent weeks. 

“We are asking all nations who are sick and tired of the Islamic Republic’s destructive behavior to join our pressure campaign,” Pompeo said.