DEMS/IRAN/SANCTIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration opened the week with a volley of threats toward Iran, returning to a longstanding security concern as it works to convince other countries to join a renewed campaign of pressure and sanctions. President Donald Trump, in a Twitter message written in capital letters except for the address, ‘To Iranian President Rouhani,’ didn’t specify consequences, and didn’t make clear whether the threat was directed at President Hassan Rouhani specifically or Iran as a whole…Mr. Trump’s tweet appeared to refer to comments by President Hassan Rouhani, reported by Iran’s semiofficial state news agency, warning the Trump administration against continuing hard-line policies against Iran…Democrats and other critics of Mr. Trump suggested that the president was trying to deflect attention from criticism of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week in Helsinki, as well as from shortcomings in diplomatic efforts with North Korea…Democrats and other critics of Mr. Trump suggested that the president was trying to deflect attention from criticism of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week in Helsinki, as well as from shortcomings in diplomatic efforts with North Korea.”
-Jessica Donati and Nancy A. Youssef, “Trump Tweet Opens Rhetorical Barrage on Iran Leader,” The Wall Street Journal, July 23, 2018 2:50 pm