*Washington: *
President Donald Trump on Friday announced new sanctions on Iran that hesaid were the toughest-ever against another country but indicated he didnot plan a military strike, calling restraint a sign of strength.
The Treasury Department unveiled action against Iran’s central bank afterUS officials said that Tehran carried out weekend attacks on rival SaudiArabia’s oil infrastructure which triggered a spike in global crude prices.
“We have just sanctioned the Iranian national bank,” Trump told reportersin the Oval Office. “These are the highest sanctions ever imposed on acountry.”
But Trump indicated he did not plan a military response, attacking bothcritics who thought the mogul turned president would trigger war and hawksseeking a military response.
“The easiest thing I could do (is) knock out 15 different major things inIran,” Trump said.
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“I could do it right here in front of you. And that would be it. And thenyou would have a nice, big story to report,” he said.
“But I think the strong-person approach and the thing that does showstrength would be showing a little bit of restraint,” he said.Advertisement
“Much easier to do it the other way. It’s much easier. And Iran knows ifthey misbehave, they’re on borrowed time,” he said. -APP/AFP
