World war 3: iran threatens the ‘mother of all wars’ against usa

Mr Rouhani’s words – which triggered a characteristically strident response from Mr Trump hours later – were delivered during a televised speech in the capital of Tehran. In language

strikingly similar to that used by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain prior to the Gulf War of 1990-91, Mr Rouhani said: “Mr Trump, don't play with the lion's tail, this would only

lead to regret," the state new agency IRNA reported. “America should know that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars.” In an apparent

reference to reported efforts by Washington to destabilise Iran's Islamic government, Mr Rouhani said: “You are not in a position to incite the Iranian nation against Iran's

security and interests." Iran faces increased US pressure and looming sanctions as a result of Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from 2015’s Joint Comprehensive Plan

of Action international deal over Iran's nuclear programme. Reuters has reported that the Trump administration had launched an offensive of speeches and online communications meant to

foment unrest and help pressure Iran to end its nuclear programme and its support of militant groups. Mr Rouhani scoffed at Mr Trump's threat to halt Iranian oil exports and said Iran

has a dominant position in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping waterway. He said: "Anyone who understands the rudiments of politics doesn't say 'we will

stop Iran's oil exports'.  “We have been the guarantor of the regional waterway's security throughout history.” Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday

backed Rouhani's apparent suggestion that Iran may block Gulf oil exports if its own exports are halted. Earlier this month, Mr Rouhani hinted that oil shipments from neighbouring

countries could be disrupted, in reaction to efforts by Washington to impose sanctions aimed at preventing Iranian exports of crude oil. Iranian officials have in the past threatened to

block the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for any hostile US action. General Kioumars Heydari, Iran's ground forces commander, told Iranian news agency Tasnim: "The Strait of

Hormuz region must either be safe for all or be insecure for everyone.” The European Union is likely to be hit by US sanctions – although South Korea foreign minister Kang Kyung-Wha,

speaking at a breakfast seminar on Thursday prior to flying to New York for talks with Mr Pompeo, said she was hopeful of securing a waiver which would allow her country to continue buying

oil from Iran. The US and Iran have been at loggerheads for decades, ever since the Islamic fundamentalist revolution of 1979 which ousted former leader Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in favour of

religious leader the Ayatollah Khomeini. The new regime frequently referred to the US as “the Great Satan”.