Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)
Sep 26, 2018
Experts warned of the possibility of war as Senate Democrats prepared to introduce legislation aimed at stopping the Trump administration from attacking Iran on Wednesday, following a belligerent speech by National Security Adviser John Bolton at a meeting of anti-Iran groups.
Bolton, who helped lead the Bush administration into the war in Iraq and has pushed for the U.S. to overthrow Iran's government for years, told his audience that Iran would have "hell to pay" if the country did not change its "behavior."
\u201cPresident Trump's regime change industry grinds on even as he is at the UN making platitudes about peace. 'US-Iran: John Bolton warns Iran of 'hell to pay' if crossed' \n#UNSC https://t.co/9QB6GjGRrh\u201d— Win Without War (@Win Without War) 1537971081
"The United States is not naive," Bolton said. "We will not be duped, cheated, or intimidated. The days of impunity for Tehran and its enablers are over. The murderous regime and its supporters will face significant consequences if they do not change their behavior. Let my message today be clear: We are watching, and we will come after you."
Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) said Tuesday afternoon that he would introduce a bill to require President Donald Trump to acquire Congressional approval for any action against Iran.
\u201cThis inflammatory and belligerent speech from Trump National Security Advisor Bolton is yet another reason why I\u2019m introducing a bill tomorrow to make sure @POTUS doesn't go to war with Iran without Congressional approval.\u201d— Archive: Senator Tom Udall (@Archive: Senator Tom Udall) 1537911426
\u201cBolton's speech to @UANI boiled down to its last line, directed towards Iran's leadership: "We are watching and we will come after you." Amusing how the administration denies pushing regime change while its Strangelovian advisors spew cartoon villain rhetoric like this.\u201d— Max Blumenthal (@Max Blumenthal) 1537905330
The speech came as tensions between the U.S. and Iran have risen over President Donald Trump's decision to exit the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, painstakingly brokered by the Obama administration and called the "best way" to ensure that Iran would not proliferate nuclear weapons by several world leaders. The United States' withdrawal from the pact was vehemently opposed by the U.N. and international leaders as well as the majority of Americans.
\u201cNSA Bolton calls Iran nuclear deal worst foreign policy decision in US history. Not decision by W Bush administration - of which he was senior member - to invade Iraq, a decision that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, cost trillions and still is shaking the Mideast.\u201d— Jonathan Landay (@Jonathan Landay) 1537907301
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also blamed U.S.-backed Persian Gulf state actors for a terrorist attack at a parade that killed nearly 30 people over the weekend. Rouhani's remarks echoed a theory that was supported by analysts including Trita Parsi, president emeritus of the National Iranian American Council, in which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, or both had a played role in the attack.
Parsi was among the critics who called Bolton's bellicose address on Tuesday the Trump administration's "way of starting war."
\u201cJohn Bolton on Iran today:\n\n"There will be hell to pay!"\n\n"We are watching, and we will come after you."\n\nThe Trump Administration pretends that this is their way to get diplomacy going. \n\nThe rest of the world fully understands that this is their way of starting war.\u201d— Trita Parsi (@Trita Parsi) 1537909465
Rouhani opened the door to speaking with Trump at the U.N. General Assembly this week following the attack, but the president brushed off the possibility of a meeting, calling Rouhani "an absolutely lovely man" but saying Tuesday that he had no plans for talks--going against the wishes of more than 50 foreign policy leaders who urged Trump to forgo his administration's aggressive tactics and engage with Iran diplomatically.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Experts warned of the possibility of war as Senate Democrats prepared to introduce legislation aimed at stopping the Trump administration from attacking Iran on Wednesday, following a belligerent speech by National Security Adviser John Bolton at a meeting of anti-Iran groups.
Bolton, who helped lead the Bush administration into the war in Iraq and has pushed for the U.S. to overthrow Iran's government for years, told his audience that Iran would have "hell to pay" if the country did not change its "behavior."
\u201cPresident Trump's regime change industry grinds on even as he is at the UN making platitudes about peace. 'US-Iran: John Bolton warns Iran of 'hell to pay' if crossed' \n#UNSC https://t.co/9QB6GjGRrh\u201d— Win Without War (@Win Without War) 1537971081
"The United States is not naive," Bolton said. "We will not be duped, cheated, or intimidated. The days of impunity for Tehran and its enablers are over. The murderous regime and its supporters will face significant consequences if they do not change their behavior. Let my message today be clear: We are watching, and we will come after you."
Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) said Tuesday afternoon that he would introduce a bill to require President Donald Trump to acquire Congressional approval for any action against Iran.
\u201cThis inflammatory and belligerent speech from Trump National Security Advisor Bolton is yet another reason why I\u2019m introducing a bill tomorrow to make sure @POTUS doesn't go to war with Iran without Congressional approval.\u201d— Archive: Senator Tom Udall (@Archive: Senator Tom Udall) 1537911426
\u201cBolton's speech to @UANI boiled down to its last line, directed towards Iran's leadership: "We are watching and we will come after you." Amusing how the administration denies pushing regime change while its Strangelovian advisors spew cartoon villain rhetoric like this.\u201d— Max Blumenthal (@Max Blumenthal) 1537905330
The speech came as tensions between the U.S. and Iran have risen over President Donald Trump's decision to exit the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, painstakingly brokered by the Obama administration and called the "best way" to ensure that Iran would not proliferate nuclear weapons by several world leaders. The United States' withdrawal from the pact was vehemently opposed by the U.N. and international leaders as well as the majority of Americans.
\u201cNSA Bolton calls Iran nuclear deal worst foreign policy decision in US history. Not decision by W Bush administration - of which he was senior member - to invade Iraq, a decision that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, cost trillions and still is shaking the Mideast.\u201d— Jonathan Landay (@Jonathan Landay) 1537907301
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also blamed U.S.-backed Persian Gulf state actors for a terrorist attack at a parade that killed nearly 30 people over the weekend. Rouhani's remarks echoed a theory that was supported by analysts including Trita Parsi, president emeritus of the National Iranian American Council, in which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, or both had a played role in the attack.
Parsi was among the critics who called Bolton's bellicose address on Tuesday the Trump administration's "way of starting war."
\u201cJohn Bolton on Iran today:\n\n"There will be hell to pay!"\n\n"We are watching, and we will come after you."\n\nThe Trump Administration pretends that this is their way to get diplomacy going. \n\nThe rest of the world fully understands that this is their way of starting war.\u201d— Trita Parsi (@Trita Parsi) 1537909465
Rouhani opened the door to speaking with Trump at the U.N. General Assembly this week following the attack, but the president brushed off the possibility of a meeting, calling Rouhani "an absolutely lovely man" but saying Tuesday that he had no plans for talks--going against the wishes of more than 50 foreign policy leaders who urged Trump to forgo his administration's aggressive tactics and engage with Iran diplomatically.
Experts warned of the possibility of war as Senate Democrats prepared to introduce legislation aimed at stopping the Trump administration from attacking Iran on Wednesday, following a belligerent speech by National Security Adviser John Bolton at a meeting of anti-Iran groups.
Bolton, who helped lead the Bush administration into the war in Iraq and has pushed for the U.S. to overthrow Iran's government for years, told his audience that Iran would have "hell to pay" if the country did not change its "behavior."
\u201cPresident Trump's regime change industry grinds on even as he is at the UN making platitudes about peace. 'US-Iran: John Bolton warns Iran of 'hell to pay' if crossed' \n#UNSC https://t.co/9QB6GjGRrh\u201d— Win Without War (@Win Without War) 1537971081
"The United States is not naive," Bolton said. "We will not be duped, cheated, or intimidated. The days of impunity for Tehran and its enablers are over. The murderous regime and its supporters will face significant consequences if they do not change their behavior. Let my message today be clear: We are watching, and we will come after you."
Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) said Tuesday afternoon that he would introduce a bill to require President Donald Trump to acquire Congressional approval for any action against Iran.
\u201cThis inflammatory and belligerent speech from Trump National Security Advisor Bolton is yet another reason why I\u2019m introducing a bill tomorrow to make sure @POTUS doesn't go to war with Iran without Congressional approval.\u201d— Archive: Senator Tom Udall (@Archive: Senator Tom Udall) 1537911426
\u201cBolton's speech to @UANI boiled down to its last line, directed towards Iran's leadership: "We are watching and we will come after you." Amusing how the administration denies pushing regime change while its Strangelovian advisors spew cartoon villain rhetoric like this.\u201d— Max Blumenthal (@Max Blumenthal) 1537905330
The speech came as tensions between the U.S. and Iran have risen over President Donald Trump's decision to exit the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, painstakingly brokered by the Obama administration and called the "best way" to ensure that Iran would not proliferate nuclear weapons by several world leaders. The United States' withdrawal from the pact was vehemently opposed by the U.N. and international leaders as well as the majority of Americans.
\u201cNSA Bolton calls Iran nuclear deal worst foreign policy decision in US history. Not decision by W Bush administration - of which he was senior member - to invade Iraq, a decision that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, cost trillions and still is shaking the Mideast.\u201d— Jonathan Landay (@Jonathan Landay) 1537907301
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also blamed U.S.-backed Persian Gulf state actors for a terrorist attack at a parade that killed nearly 30 people over the weekend. Rouhani's remarks echoed a theory that was supported by analysts including Trita Parsi, president emeritus of the National Iranian American Council, in which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, or both had a played role in the attack.
Parsi was among the critics who called Bolton's bellicose address on Tuesday the Trump administration's "way of starting war."
\u201cJohn Bolton on Iran today:\n\n"There will be hell to pay!"\n\n"We are watching, and we will come after you."\n\nThe Trump Administration pretends that this is their way to get diplomacy going. \n\nThe rest of the world fully understands that this is their way of starting war.\u201d— Trita Parsi (@Trita Parsi) 1537909465
Rouhani opened the door to speaking with Trump at the U.N. General Assembly this week following the attack, but the president brushed off the possibility of a meeting, calling Rouhani "an absolutely lovely man" but saying Tuesday that he had no plans for talks--going against the wishes of more than 50 foreign policy leaders who urged Trump to forgo his administration's aggressive tactics and engage with Iran diplomatically.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.