'There's a new President in town' White House escalates tensions with Iran with new threat
WHITE HOUSE spokesman Sean Spicer issued a stark warning to Iran on Wednesday as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.
Spicer warns Iran: There's a new president in town
The press secretary told Iran it was “kidding itself” if it did not realise “a new President is in town” as he unleashed a new war of words.
Mr Spicer’s comments were in response to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said Donald Trump had shown “the real face of America” by imposing new sanctions on the country.
Speaking for the first time since Mr Trump took office, Mr Khamenei lambasted the President - accusing him of exposing the “political, economic, moral and social corruption” of the US.
Iran is kidding itself if they do not realise that there’s a new President in town
The stern words were in response to the action taken by the US against Iran for conducting a ballistic missile test.
Addressing military commanders in Tehran, the Iranian leader criticised Mr Trump for trying to frighten his citizens.
“We are thankful for this person who has arrived [President Trump]. Our thanks are for making our life easy as he showed the real face of America," he said.
"What we have been saying for more than 30 years about the political, economic, moral and social corruption in the US ruling system, this person arose during the election campaign and... has confirmed it."
As the strain increases on the fragile relationship between the two countries, Mr Spicer rebuked the comments made in Iran.
During his morning briefing to the media on Tuesday, he said: “I think [Iran] is going to realise that there is a new President in office.
“This President is not going to sit by and let Iran flout its apparent violations of the joint agreement.
“[Donald Trump] will continue to take action as he sees fit. The President has also made clear time and time again that he will not project what those actions will be - nothing is off the table.
“But I think Iran is kidding itself if they do not realise that there’s a new President in town.”
Last week Iran confirmed it had tested a missile but strongly denied violating a UN Security Council resolution on its nuclear activities.
Mr President responded furiously, taking to social media to tweet: “They don't appreciate how 'kind' President Obama was to them. Not me."
Under the current deal, economic sanctions were lifted on Iran in return for halting its nuclear activities.