International
oi-Gaurav Sharma
US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran again with a military response, insisting that Washington will resume attacks on Tehran if it does not agree to a peace deal. He also warned that the US will turn its attention to Cuba after the Iranian issue is complete.
President Trump spoke of the prospect of a new confrontation with Iran during a rally in Florida on Friday, which was attended by thousands of voters in the presidential election.
US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with renewed military action if a peace deal fails, stating US focus would then shift to Cuba. Both Iran and Cuba vowed resistance as oil prices climbed amid the renewed tensions.
“We may do another little Epic Fury or they’ll agree,” he said, warning Iran to make a deal instead of facing another punitive American military operation.
The statement came hours after the US ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who serves as Washington’s special envoy to Syria, warned that Iran could be subjected to a new US military operation in the weekend.
In February, the American military operation was called “Epic Fury.” Trump’s recent remarks about “another little Epic Fury” have raised questions about whether Washington is preparing for a new round of attacks on Iran or is seeking to intimidate Tehran into accepting a deal.
Iran Faces New Pressure From The US
Against the backdrop of renewed tensions, oil prices climbed to a new record, posing a potential threat to the world economy.
While President Trump blamed the surge on Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities, the risk of renewed clashes between the US and Iran also contributed to the price jumps.
Tehran has warned Washington that it would suffer the consequences of new American attacks and vowed to defend itself in case of another US military operation. With both sides showing resolve, the clash could become a new obstacle in the negotiations.
Trump Warned Cuba That It Would Face Consequences
While Trump spoke in Florida about a new attack on Iran, he also warned Cuba that the new round of tensions with the US would come when the Iranian issue is resolved.
“We’ll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran,” he said at the rally.
Trump also warned Cuba of potential consequences, drawing comparisons to his recent comments about the potential for a new military operation in Cuba.
“I imagine we’ll have some nice little ships going up and down near the coast, and maybe Marco Rubio will have something to do with it,” he added. Rubio is the secretary of state, having previously served as the governor of Florida.
Cuban President Miguel D’Valdés was concerned about the latest comments from the US president, as the Trump administration has ramped up pressure on Havana in recent months. Earlier this month, Marco Rubio called for a secret CIA partnership with Cubans. In addition, Trump has long called for regime change in Cuba.
After Trump’s comments in May that the US would occupy Cuba immediately if a change in government did not occur, the Cuban foreign ministry responded by calling for an end to the “ideological confrontations” of the Cubans.
Washington’s interference in the internal affairs of other states is therefore viewed in Havana as an attempt to establish hegemony and promote its own geopolitical and ideological interests.
Cuba Vows To Resist Any US Pressure
Cuba has responded to Washington’s open calls for action by vowing to resist any pressure. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez paid tribute to the coastline of Cuba on Twitter, saying that it is protected by “razor-sharp limestone spikes” and noting that it is uninhabited for “foreigners who make it to our shores with hostile intentions and a thirst for conquest.”
“Our coastline is made up of wonderful white-sand beaches, but also of limestone rocks full of spines, an inhospitable land for those who make it to our shores with hostile intentions and a thirst for conquest,” he wrote.
