A senior US official told journalist Barak Ravid that President Trump is focused on making Iran pay for violating the memorandum of understanding, and that the destructive strikes will continue until Trump decides otherwise. The statement echoes but sharpens the administration's punitive posture, following a similar message to i24NEWS moments earlier.
A senior US official told journalist Barak Ravid Monday evening that President Trump is focused on making Iran pay for violating the memorandum of understanding (MOU), and that the 'destructive blows' will continue until the president decides otherwise.
As The Zioneer reported earlier, the same official told i24NEWS that diplomatic talks with Iran are ongoing despite the strikes. The statement to Ravid, however, emphasizes the punitive dimension of the campaign, adding that the MOU violations are the driving cause for the continued strikes.
The official's remarks follow a series of escalating US strikes on Iranian infrastructure over recent weeks, which Trump has described as a response to Iranian provocations, including a drone incident near an Apache helicopter. The administration has publicly maintained that it has not abandoned diplomacy, but today's statement to Ravid suggests the focus is on punishment rather than negotiation in the near term.
2 developments
- DevelopingTrump: US strikes on Iran will continue until I say otherwise
- DevelopingTrump, angered, says Iran is 'stalling' nuclear deal, threatens immediate attack
- DevelopingTrump tells NYT he will 'renew military attacks' on Iran if nuclear talks falter
- StrongTrump: If Iran does not respect us, I will do what I must; addresses Lebanon and sanctions
Source and signal
- Internal intake