President Donald Trump's angry tweet to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reinforces he will not stand for nuclear proliferation or "empty threats" from "aggressive leaders from other countries," press secretary Sarah Sanders said Monday.
"He is going to stand up and make sure that we are protecting Americans and certainly protect the world from nuclear proliferation," Sanders told Fox News' "Fox & Friends." "It's something he takes seriously and is he going to continue to be tough on this topic."
Trump warned Sunday night Iran risked consequences "the like of which few throughout history have suffered before" if the Islamic Republic made more threats against the United States.
The tweet followed comments from Rouhani on Sunday, when he told a gathering of Iranian diplomats: "Mr. Trump, don't play with the lion's tail, this would only lead to regret . . . America should know that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars."
He also ridiculed Trump's threat to stop Iranian oil exports, while saying Iran has a dominant position in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping waterway.
Sanders said Monday, however, the Trump White House will "never" broadcast what actions the president might take, or what kind of threat would prompt him to take action against Iran.
"You can be rest assured he takes this process extremely seriously," Sanders said. "He is monitoring and watching the actions of Iran, and if needed, he will take what steps are necessary to protect people in this country and certainly to protect the world from nuclear proliferation."
She also denied Trump is "inciting" a problem with Iran by using the all-caps tweet.
"The only person inciting anything is Iran," Sanders said. "The president has been very, very clear, again, since day one what his objectives are, and he certainly is not going to tolerate the leader of Iran making threats against Americans, making threats against this country, making threats against Israel.
"This is a president who is going to stand up and make sure he is doing what is necessary. He is showing peace through strength. But, if needed, and steps are required, this president is not afraid to take them."
Earlier this year, Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un went back and forth with comments, but Trump eventually met with Kim. Sanders said Monday that Trump does use tough language and is not afraid to take "tough steps if necessary."
"Frankly, it didn't come to that with North Korea," Sanders said. "Hopefully, it doesn't come to that with Iran or anyone else. This is a president who wants to see peace. This is a president who wants to work with other world leaders. This is a president who wants to bring people together. At the same time, he is going to do what is necessary to protect Americans."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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