Iran President Rouhani issues strong warning against US; asks it ‘not to play with lion’s tail’

Tehran, July 23: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani likened his country with a "lion" on Sunday, July 22, as he warned the US against entering into a conflict with the West Asian country, its Press TV reported.

"Mr. Trump!... Don't play with the lion's tail! It will be something (for you) to regret," Rouhani said addressing US President Donald Trump over his anti-Iran measures.

Speaking at a meeting with Iranian diplomatic missions in foreign countries in Tehran, Rouhani said that the Americans needed to learn that a peace with Iran is the "mother of all peace" and a war with it is the "mother of all wars".

Relations between Iran and the US - two old foes - nosedived after a brief normalcy as President Trump pulled his country out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and pledged to reimpose sanctions that were lifted under the Barack Obama-era deal. Washington has also put pressure on other countries that have trade dealings with Iran to curb relations with it.

Iran hit back hard at the US after the latter said that it would bring Iran's oil sales to "zero", saying it was no less than an economic war, the report added.

Rouhani said such threats will only unite Iran more and bring it bigger benefits at some costs. He also warned that if Iran was not allowed to sell oil, it would also make life difficult for other countries in the region to sell their oil. He slammed the US saying anybody having a minimum understanding of politics would never seek to block Iran's oil sales.

He also said that by unilaterally pulling out of the 2015 deal (formally known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), the US only became more isolated.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sought practical measures from the European nations that are member of the 2015 deal to save it, Iranian media reports said.