“Iran will probably be held absolutely answerable for lives misplaced, or harm incurred, at any of our amenities. They'll pay a really BIG PRICE! T
“Iran will probably be held absolutely answerable for lives misplaced, or harm incurred, at any of our amenities. They’ll pay a really BIG PRICE! This isn’t a Warning, it’s a Risk,” Mr. Trump tweeted on New Year’s Eve. “Completely happy New Yr!”
Hours into 2020, Iran’s supreme chief responded with a taunt.
“You may’t do something,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote on his English-language Twitter account. He added: “For those who had been logical —which you’re not— you’d see that your crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan… have made nations hate you.”
Two days later, Common Suleimani was lifeless — killed in a drone strike ordered by Mr. Trump.
9 months of escalation, misjudgments and heated messaging had led to the president’s choice, which surprised each his personal navy advisers in addition to high officers in Tehran.
“It was clear that Iran didn’t anticipate Trump to retaliate in any significant manner,” stated Mr. Sadjadpour, the Iran knowledgeable.
The killing prompted Iran to take a step it had lengthy averted: a direct and overt strike towards the American navy. 4 days after Common Suleimani was killed, Iran fired greater than a dozen missiles at two American bases in Iraq. Greater than 100 American troopers had been injured, however nobody was killed, and Mr. Trump and his advisers believed america had gotten the higher of the change.
Within the weeks since, they’ve insisted that their technique is working, that the regular squeeze of “most strain” will pressure Iran to yield to their calls for. However, not less than publicly, Iran stays defiant and wedded to brinkmanship techniques over its nuclear program and regional navy affect.
Hours after Iranian missiles landed on the American bases in Iraq, Mr. Khamenei vowed that “harsh revenge” was simply starting. “The US’ corruptive presence within the area should come to an finish,” he advised a big crowd within the metropolis of Qum, including that Iran wouldn’t relaxation till it achieved that purpose.
Mark Mazzetti reported from Washington, Ronen Bergman from Tel Aviv and Farnaz Fassihi from New York. Julian E. Barnes contributed reporting from Washington.