U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday stood by his threat to go after Iranian cultural sites, warning of a “major retaliation” if Iran strikes back for the killing of one of its top military commanders.

The president, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, also threatened sanctions against U.S. ally Iraq after its parliament called on American troops to leave the country.

Trump and his advisers have been defending the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, whose death has escalated tensions in the region. Trump says Soleimani was planning attacks against Americans and said he would consider releasing intelligence reports that led him to direct the killing.

Asked about potential retaliation by Iran, Trump said: “If it happens, it happens. If they do anything, there will be major retaliation.”

Trump has said the operation was conducted to avoid war with Tehran and warned against further escalation, but he has employed tough rhetoric in public, tweeting that the United States had targeted 52 Iranian sites, some “at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture” if Iran struck any American or American assets in retaliation.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied on Sunday that Trump said he would target Iranian cultural sites, but the president contradicted him when asked about the issue on Sunday night.

“They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people and we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way,” he said.

Targeting cultural sites with military action is considered a war crime under international law, including a U.N. Security Council resolution supported by the Trump administration in 2017 and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property.

The president also issued a threat to Baghdad after the Iraqi parliament’s call for U.S. and other foreign troops to leave the country in a backlash against the killing of Soleimani.

“We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that’s there. It cost billions of dollars to build, long before my time. We’re not leaving unless they pay us back for it,” Trump told reporters.

Trump said that if Iraq asked U.S. forces to leave and it was not done on a friendly basis, “we will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.”

Iran says it would not respect limits set down in nuclear pact but remains open to negotiations with European partners.

Iran said it will no longer abide by the enrichment limits in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers after its top general was killed in an air raid by the United States on Friday.

Sunday's announcement means Iran is abandoning key provisions from the accord - negotiated between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and Germany - that prevent it from having enough material to build an atomic weapon.

Iran insisted in a state television broadcast it remained open to negotiations with European partners, who so far have been unable to offer Tehran a way to sell its crude oil abroad despite US sanctions.

It also did not back off of earlier promises that it would not seek a nuclear weapon.

However, the announcement represents the clearest nuclear proliferation threat yet made by Iran since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord in May 2018.

It also further raises regional tensions, as Iran's longtime foe Israel has promised never to allow Iran to be able to produce an atomic bomb.

In response, the leaders of France, Germany and Britain urged Iran to abide by the agreement.

"We call on Iran to withdraw all measures that are not in line with the nuclear agreement," German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a joint statement.

Iran's announcement came after another Iranian official said it would consider taking even-harsher steps over the US killing of General Qassem Soleimani on Friday.

Iran's state TV cited a statement by President Hassan Rouhani's administration saying the country would not observe limitations on its enrichment, the amount of stockpiled enriched uranium as well as research and development in its nuclear activities.

"The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has in a statement announced its fifth and final step in reducing Iran's commitments under the JCPOA," a state TV broadcaster said, using an acronym for the deal. "The Islamic Republic of Iran no longer faces any limitations in operations."

It did not elaborate on what levels it would immediately reach in its programme.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations watchdog observing Iran's programme, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

However, Iran said that its cooperation with the IAEA would "continue as before".

Soleimani's killing has escalated the crisis between Tehran and Washington after the months of threats that have put the wider Middle East on edge.

The dispute is rooted in Trump's decision to pull out of Iran's atomic accord and impose sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

Iran has promised "harsh revenge" for the US attack, which shocked Iranians across all political lines. Many saw Soleimani as a pillar of the country at a moment when it has been beset by US sanctions and recent anti-government protests.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-iran-trump/trump-stands-by-threat-on-iranian-cultural-sites-warns-of-major-retaliation-idUSKBN1Z501R

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/soleimani-killing-iran-abandons-nuclear-deal-limits-200105185905943.html

Oga trump, you can not do that, it's called war crimes.

When you don't have advisers or don't listen to advisers..

Somehow this whole thing is going on a broader scale.

All Na empty threats

leofab:
All Na empty threats

Trump doesn't do empty threat, u can say that for Iran

These guys should protect their land by going low key.

Trump is only trying to save his face! All these actions are war crimes from a confused leader trying so hard to stay relevant.

Unilaterally cancelingnthe JCPOA agreement is uncalled for and not in the interest of the world at large. The claims that nuclear power in the hands of Iran is a threat to the world is unbelievable.

The Israeli government has been commuting war crimes for decades and no response from the US government. The same applies to the Saudi government who has been killing Yemenis but the US government turned a blind eye.

Soleimani presented document on the secret meetings arranged between the US military and the daesh terrorist group in Iraq. His assasination was predicted.

A nation that fails to invest in technology and science risks becoming a battle ground for future invasion by stronger nations.

I'm still waiting for Arabs & Africans to set up military bases around America. This is impossible and would face a strong backlash by the US government.

A time will come when new world powers would emerge

idealogical:
Oga trump, you can not do that, it's called war crimes.

When you don't have advisers or don't listen to advisers..

what is talking wetin you Sabi inside chicken belle

Nukilia:
Trump is only trying to save his face! All these actions are war crimes from a confused leader trying so hard to stay relevant.

He is only putting his people first to prevent repeat of the 2001 attacks; there are exceptions to War crimes such as self defense, preemptive strike. Also US is not a party to the ICC Rome Statute

Macsjebs:

Trump doesn't do empty threat, u can say that for Iran

trump is a mere figure...

idealogical:
Oga trump, you can not do that, it's called war crimes.

When you don't have advisers or don't listen to advisers..

You want to know who last went after cultural sites? . Taliban in Afghanistan. They bombed hundreds of centuries old sculptures carved into mountaines with artillery claiming they were idols.
Some of these were world heritage sites.

It is a disgrace that the US now has a coward in oval office who would threaten cultural sites because he is scared of repercussions of his acts of state terrorism.
It is a sad day for America

Macsjebs:


He is only putting his people first to prevent repeat of the 2001 attacks; there are exceptions to War crimes such as self defense, preemptive strike. Also US is not a party to the ICC Rome Statute

He has just exposed his people to the worst forms of terrorist attacks. Worse than 2001. Every one of them has to run scared while abroad

Jimi24:


He has just exposed his people to the worst forms of terrorist attacks. Worse than 2001. Every one of them has to run scared while abroad

Boss, who exposed them then
Who ended IS

leofab:
trump is a mere figure...

Please don't say that, it's quite unfair...Obama never made any quick and decisive decisions/actions

Now u have someone who is in total control in power and you say he is a mere figure, what else do you want

Macsjebs:

Trump doesn't do empty threat, u can say that for Iran

Iran empty threat?

Jimi24:


You want to know who last went after cultural sites? . Taliban in Afghanistan. They bombed hundreds of centuries old sculptures carved into mountaines with artillery claiming they were idols.
Some of these were world heritage sites.

It is a disgrace that the US now has a coward in oval office who would threaten cultural sites because he is scared of repercussions of his acts of state terrorism.
It is a sad day for America

You've been yearning since morning, Trump this, Trump that!

Why didn't you blame the Dead General acts that has resulted to death of many. One thing comes to mind, you're religious bigot. Please post your comments on Nairaland condemning the burning of US Embassy in Iraq inspired by same Terrorist General.

You're busy telling us the level of literacy in Iran, what have they produced? What are they known for except Oil, since they're sophisticated, why do they always need the backing of another nation (Russia) when faced with America?

Stop making noise if you can't balance judgment. I wish Iran can hit one American Interest and watch the end come on them.

Jimi24:


You want to know who last went after cultural sites? . Taliban in Afghanistan. They bombed hundreds of centuries old sculptures carved into mountaines with artillery claiming they were idols.
Some of these were world heritage sites.

It is a disgrace that the US now has a coward in oval office who would threaten cultural sites because he is scared of repercussions of his acts of state terrorism.
It is a sad day for America

Sad day for America, because the man (American Contractor) that was killed wasn't your father, right?