US President Donald Trump says America will hit 52 Iranian targets if the Middle East country carries out its threat to retaliate the killing of Qassem Soleimani, leader of the elite Quds Force.
The US president had ordered the killing of Soleimani whom he accused of planning an imminent attack on Americans.
The death of the Iranian general sparked tension amid which Gholamali Abuhamzeh, commander of the Guards in the southern province of Kerman, Iran, said his country had identified at least 35 US targets for retaliatory strikes.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there … some 35 US targets in the region, as well as Tel Aviv, are within our reach,” he reportedly said.
But in a series of tweets on Saturday night, the US president said his country will hit Iran “very fast and very hard” if it kills an American or assets.
He said the US had invested $2 trillion on equipment and would unleash it on Iran if the country attacks any American.
“Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding the world of their terrorist leader who had just killed an American, and badly wounded many others, not to mention all of the people he had killed over his lifetime, including recently hundreds of Iranian protesters,” Trump tweeted.
“He was already attacking our Embassy, and preparing for additional hits in other locations. Iran has been nothing but problems for many years.
“Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!
“The United States just spent Two Trillion Dollars on Military Equipment. We are the biggest and by far the BEST in the World! If Iran attacks an American Base, or any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment their way…and without hesitation!”
Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding the world of their terrorist leader who had just killed an American, & badly wounded many others, not to mention all of the people he had killed over his lifetime, including recently….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2020