National Security Advisor Michael Flynn
announced at the White House Wednesday that
the U.S. is "putting Iran on notice" after
it tested a ballistic missile. (Feb. 1)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House issued a
cryptic warning Wednesday that the U.S. will
act against Iran unless it stops testing
ballistic missiles and supporting Houthi
rebels in Yemen, but declined to say what
retaliatory actions the U.S. would pursue.
Michael Flynn, President
Donald Trump's national security
adviser, forcefully denounced Iran's
behavior in his first public remarks since
Trump took office. He accused Iran of
threatening U.S. allies and spreading
instability throughout the Middle East while
faulting the Obama administration for doing
too little to stop the Islamic Republic.
"As of today, we are officially putting Iran
on notice," Flynn said from the White House
podium.
On notice for what, Flynn didn't say. Senior
Trump administration officials said they
were actively considering a "range of
options" including economic measures and
increased support for Iran's regional
adversaries. The officials, who briefed
reporters on condition of anonymity,
declined repeatedly to say whether military
action was being considered.
Later Wednesday, Trump tweeted: "Iran is
rapidly taking over more and more of Iraq
even after the U.S. has squandered three
trillion dollars there. Obvious long ago!"
The warning was an early manifestation of
Trump's promise of a tougher American
approach to Iran. Yet administration
officials emphasized that their allegations
were unrelated to Iran's obligations under
the Iran nuclear deal that President
Barack Obama and world leaders
negotiated. Though Flynn noted Trump has
criticized that deal, officials declined to
say whether Trump planned to follow through
on his campaign pledge to renegotiate it.
"The Obama administration failed to respond
adequately to Tehran's malign actions —
including weapons transfers, support for
terrorism and other violations of
international norms," Flynn said.
The White House also faulted Iran for
backing Houthi rebels in Yemen who on
Tuesday claimed a successful missile strike
against a warship belonging to a Saudi-led
coalition fighting to reinstall Yemen's
internationally recognized government. The
media arm of the Shiite rebels said the
vessel was believed to belong to the Saudi
Arabian navy.
Administration officials said Iran was
providing key support by arming, training
and financing the rebels, with a goal of
leveraging its relationship with the Houthis
to "build a long-term presence in Yemen."
The White House said the goal in putting
Iran "on notice" was to signal to Tehran
that it needed to rethink its behavior.
Flynn said Iran specifically violated the
U.N.'s ban on "activity related to
ballistic missiles designed to be capable of
delivering nuclear weapons, including
launches using such ballistic missile
technology."
Iran's Defense Minister Gen.
Hossein Dehghan confirmed Wednesday that
Iran conducted a missile test, but did not
say when the test was carried out or specify
the type of missile. He insisted it wasn't a
violation of U.N. resolutions.
The U.S. said the test was of a medium-range
ballistic missile. It ended with a "failed"
re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, said a
U.S. defense official, who wasn't authorized
to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on
condition of anonymity.
Reports of the test emerged after Trump
signed an executive order last week
temporarily suspending immigration from Iran
and six other majority-Muslim countries.
On one point, the U.S. and Iran agree: The
test didn't violate the nuclear deal itself.
Ballistic missile testing wasn't explicitly
included in the 2015 nuclear agreement
between Iran and six world powers. But as
part of the final negotiations, Iran agreed
to an eight-year extension of a U.N. ban on
ballistic missile development. The U.N.
Security Council later endorsed the
agreement, calling on Iran not to carry out
such tests. But Iran has flouted the
prohibition regularly in the past
year-and-a-half, drawing sanctions from the
U.S. but also diplomatic cover from Russia.
At America's request, the U.N. Security
Council held a session Tuesday to address
the missile test. The council referred the
matter to its committee on Iran and asked
for an investigation.
Iran has long boasted of having missiles
that can travel 2,000 kilometers (1,200
miles), putting much of the Middle East,
including Israel, in range. Such capability
would also put U.S. bases in the region in
danger. Iran says its missiles are key to
deterring a U.S. or Israeli attack.
In March, Iran test-fired two ballistic
missiles. One was emblazoned with the phrase
"Israel must be wiped out" in Hebrew,
sparking international outcry.
___
Associated Press writer
Jill Colvin contributed to this report.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/National-security-adviser-puts-Iran-on-notice-10900601.php