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U.S. Rep Matt Gaetz gave a stern message to Iran that any attempts to engage in terrorism would be met with a swift reply from the United States.
The Florida Republican warned Iran’s regime to “get your act together” during an appearance on Fox News after provocative actions by the Islamic nation prompted a response from President Donald Trump.
(Source: Fox News)
“The United States doesn’t seek a war with Iran,” Gaetz said on “Hannity” Wednesday.”Such a war would certainly be lost by Iran, but the winner would undoubtedly be China.”
He added that “under President Trump’s doctrine, we’re not going to engage in endless foreign wars but we will take out terrorists.”
Iranian vessels last week repeatedly passed U.S. vessels in close range and at high speeds in the international waters of the Persian Gulf.
#ICYMI: Iranian #IRGCN vessels with weapons manned harassed #USSLewisBPuller (ESB 3) while operating in international waters in the North Arabian Gulf. U.S. crews took actions deemed appropriate to avoid a collision.
Learn more about the #USNavy‘s ESB: https://t.co/nhstyAIAOW pic.twitter.com/NBv13TRCSG
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) April 16, 2020
“I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea,” Trump tweeted Wednesday in response.
I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2020
The leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps countered with a threat that his troops will “destroy any American terrorist force that threatens security of Iran’s military or non-military ships.
“Security of the Persian Gulf is part of Iran’s strategic priorities,” Major General Hossein Salami on Iranian state TV, according to Reuters.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif followed suit on Thursday, tweeting that Trump and the U.S. should worry about the coronavirus pandemic and stop “provoking our sailors.”
The US military is hit by over 5000 #covid19 infections. @realdonaldtrump should attend to their needs, not engage in threats cheered on by Saddam’s terrorists.
Also, US forces have no business 7,000 miles away from home, provoking our sailors off our OWN Persian Gulf shores. pic.twitter.com/7CjzabkyVK
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) April 23, 2020
The message is very clear to any Iranian official that would engage in terrorism,” Gaetz said Wednesday.
“Either get your act together or get prepared to meet General Soleimani,” he added, referring to Qassem Soleimani, the former leader of the Iranian Quds Force who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq in January.
“I don’t think that American blood should be used to avenge foreign oil or foreign vessels but where Americans are in danger, the president has been very clear that he will respond,” Gaetz said. “I appreciate the fact that the Trump Doctrine is one that does not seek to engage us in yet another forever war, but we take action swiftly and we reset deterrents.”
“Iran better get their act together because I think this president means what he says and he certainly put the word out that he’s not going to tolerate that behavior against our interests,” the GOP lawmaker added.
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Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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