Trump: If Tehran attacks, it will be official end of Iran

WASHINGTON-Agence France-Presse

President Donald Trump issued an ominous warning to Iran on May 19, suggesting that if the Islamic republic attacks American interests, it will be destroyed.    

"If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again," Trump said in a tweet.    

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been on the rise as the United States has deployed a carrier group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf over what it termed Iranian "threats." This account has been met with widespread skepticism outside the United States.

The White House has sent mixed signals in recent days, amid multiple U.S. media reports of infighting in Trump's cabinet over how hard to push Washington's arch foe Iran.    

The Trump administration has ordered non-essential diplomatic staff out of Iraq, citing threats from Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groups, and sent an aircraft carrier and heavy B-52 bombers to the region.

On May 19, a Katyusha rocket was fired into Baghdad's Green Zone housing government offices and embassies including the U.S. mission. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.   

According to U.S. media reports, Trump's long-hawkish national security advisor John Bolton is pushing a hard line on Iran, but others in the administration are resisting.    

Trump himself said recently that he has to "temper" Bolton.    

Iran's foreign minister downplayed the prospect of a new war in the region on May 18, saying Tehran opposed it and no party was under the "illusion" the Islamic republic could be confronted.   

"We are certain... there will not be a war since neither we want a war nor does anyone have the illusion they can confront Iran in the region," Mohammad Javad Zarif told state-run news agency IRNA at the end of a visit to China.