Zarif: Actions, Not Words, Will Show Trump’s Real Intent

By Staff, Agencies

Iran’s foreign minister says US President Donald Trump has to prove in action whether he seeks to fall into line with the league of anti-Iran domestic and regional officials.

Tweeting on Monday, Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “B-Team's Economic Terrorism is hurting the Iranian people and causing tension in the region. Actions—not words—will show whether or not that's Donald Trump's intent.”

In late April, Zarif identified the B-Team as US National Security Advisor John Bolton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The US has been pursuing a policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran under US Trump, which has Bolton as its top security aide. The policy has seen Washington reinstating draconian economic sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic, and dispatching an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber taskforce, and an amphibious assault ship to the region.

Washington has been enlisting the assistance of its regional allies in implementing the policy. Recently, it said that it would target every country potentially buying Iran’s oil as of May 2 with “secondary sanctions.”

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates immediately reported that they would be making up for potential shortages of the Iranian crude.

According to Zarif, the markedly hostile foursome have themselves admitted to targeting the Iranian people with economic terrorism.

Despite leveling serious threats and accusations against Iran, Trump has from time to time rowed back from avowing an intention to either militarily attack Iran or seeking “regime change” in the Islamic Republic.

Bolton, however, has invariably championed warfare against Iran and directed ill-intentioned criticism against the country’s Islamic establishment.