Iran news in brief, May 10, 2019

Iran news in brief, May 10, 2019

US Threatens 'Swift and Decisive' Response to Any Iran Attack

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday threatened a “swift and decisive” US response to any attack by Iran Regime, in the latest of a series of escalating statements and actions.

Pompeo said in a statement: “The regime in Tehran should understand that any attacks by them or their proxies of any identity against US interests or citizens will be answered with a swift and decisive US response,”.

he said: “Our restraint to this point should not be mistaken by Iran for a lack of resolve,”.

Trump Urges Iran Regime to Talk Over Nuclear Program, Cannot Rule out Military Action

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Iran Regime's leadership to sit down and talk with him about giving up Tehran's nuclear program and said he could not rule out a military confrontation given the heightened tensions between the two countries.

"We have information that you don't want to know about," said Trump. "They were very threatening and we have to have great security for this country and many other places."

Iraq Reduces Imports From Iran by 45 Percent

Iraq has substantially curtailed imports from Iran, according to an economic daily published in Tehran.

The report says part of the restriction on Iranian imports stem from general bans on a range of products, while part of it is due to targeted bans on Iranian imports.

Latest statistics from Iran’s customs show that non-oil exports to Iraq during March 21-April 20 period was $389 million, while in the previous 30-day period the value of Iranian exports to Iraq stood at $722 million.

Official: Pompeo Returns to US to Discuss Iran Regime, North Korea

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cut short a European trip and returned to Washington for meetings on Iran Regme and North Korea, a senior State Department official said on Thursday.

Pompeo first changed his plans to have meetings on Iran after U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday imposed fresh sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. The sanctions target revenue from industrial metal exports in the latest escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Ambassador to Germany Threatens Companies With U.S. Ban Over Iran

U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell warned companies that they could be blocked from the U.S. market if they do business with Iran Regime.

“You can do as much business as you want in Iran, but we have a say with regards to your visa,” Grenell, who has a history of exasperating his Berlin hosts, told Bild newspaper in an interview. “Because if you do something, we’re not going to agree to let you enter our country.”

Happiness Banned for School Children in Iran

Video clips recently published on the internet show scenes of happiness of Iranian school children singing playfully in schools. The video clips were strongly criticized by Ali Motahhari, deputy speaker of the clerical regime’s parliament.

In a harsh reaction to the happiness of children at schools, he said the Minister of Education must account for them. He also called for dismissal of the principals of those schools.

In some schools, the happiness and celebrations were to honor the Teachers’ Day in Iran on May 2.