White House warns Iran on missile test, but signals intent to enforce nuclear deal
Trump national security aides warned Iran against missile tests and its support for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, but said they were drawing a line between Iran’s regional behavior and the Iran nuclear deal.
WASHINGTON — Citing an Iranian medium-range ballistic missile test Jan. 29 and Houthi provocations against vessels in the Red Sea, national security aides to President Donald Trump said Feb. 1 they are putting Iran on notice, while also saying they differentiate what they described as Iran’s destabilizing actions in the region from the Iran nuclear deal.
“Recent Iranian actions, including a provocative ballistic missile launch and an attack against a Saudi naval vessel conducted by Iran-supported Houthi militants, underscore … Iran’s destabilizing behavior across the Middle East,” Trump’s national security adviser, retired Gen. Michael Flynn, told journalists at a White House press briefing Feb. 1.
Criticizing the Obama administration for failing “to respond adequately to Tehran’s malign actions,” Flynn said Iran was now feeling emboldened.
“As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice,” Flynn warned.
