On Wednesday from Abu Dhabi, National Security Advisor John Bolton commented on Iran backing out of the nuclear deal, "There’s no reason for them to do any of that unless that’s part of an effort to reduce the breakout time to produce nuclear weapons." The United States backed out of the nuclear deal over a year ago.
"This is just more graphic evidence that it hasn’t constrained their continuing desire to have nuclear weapons," Bolton added. "It certainly hasn’t reduced their terrorist activities in the region that we just discussed or their other malign behavior in their use of conventional forces."
Bolton also told reporters that Iran was "almost certainly" behind the sabotage attacks off the coast of the United Arab Emirates this month. "There’s no doubt in anybody’s mind in Washington who’s responsible for this," he said. "Who else would you think is doing it? Someone from Nepal?" Bolton offered no evidence that Iran was behind the attacks.
Bolton also mentioned the Houthis attack on a pipeline in Saudi Arabia, "We gathered evidence about the nature of attacks on the tankers and the East-West pipeline, and sent additional forces to act as a deterrent." Last week Trump confirmed 1,500 additional troops were being sent to the Middle East.
Abbas Mousavi, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman responded to Bolton’s allegations, "Raising this ludicrous claim in a meeting of those with a long history of anti-Iran policies is not strange," he told Fars news agency, "Iran’s strategic patience, vigilance and defensive prowess will defuse mischievous plots made by Bolton and other warmongers."
Last Friday Pentagon officials also said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is to blame for the sabotaged ships, Rear Admiral Michael Gilday said, "The attack against the shipping in Fujairah we attribute it to the IRGC." There is no evidence linking the IRGC to the sabotaged ships.
Dave DeCamp is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn NY, focusing on US Foreign policy and wars. He is on Twitter at @decampdave.
Like Trump just knew that the Central Park 5 were guilty of rape, Bolton just knows it was Iran. Bolton’s gut feeling is also apparently shared by everyone in DC! Had to be Iran, I mean, who *else* in the region hates America, amirite?
And you can always trust an albino walrus. This guy belongs hanging from his junk at Gitmo for his treasonous actions against the safety of this country.
Yeah, right, David. I agree; you can never trust an albino walrus like Bonkers Bolton. As you rightly said, this guy belongs hanging from his junk at Gitmo for his treasonous actions against the safety of this country.
I do, however, suggest another way of punishing him .. Have him wear a uniform and helmet; give him a rifle with one round of ammunition, along with a parachute; board him on a plane to the Middle East, and drop him over the outskirts of Tehran, about 800 yards from the closest Iranian military base. I can just imagine it now – Bonkers quivering in his boots and soiling his pants as a squad of heavily-armed Iranian forces confront him with bayonets aimed at his chest. 😉
Bolton isn’t going to rest until he gets some American blood on his hands. Mark my words: if the US and Iran go to war, it will be on account of John Bolton’s actions and meddling.