Rouhani to Trump: War with Iran is ‘mother of all wars’

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday warned the U.S. against taking aggressive action that could lead to war with Iran.

“America should know that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars,” Rouhani told a group of Iranian diplomats, according to Reuters.

Rouhani also said pursuing hostile policies against Iran would “only lead to regret.”

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“You are not in a position to incite the Iranian nation against Iran’s security and interests,” Rouhani added, Reuters reported.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been heightened for years, dating back well before the Trump administration.

However, President Trump rattled allies and Iran with his decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal earlier this year. The agreement offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear program.

As a result, the U.S. will reimpose sanctions on companies that do business with Iran, though the Treasury Department has said it may grant waivers to some businesses.

Trump has said Iran will come to the negotiating table to hammer out a better deal, though that has yet to happen. The New York Times reported last week that Iranian leadership rejected Trump’s request to meet in person on multiple occasions in 2017. 

Meanwhile, administration officials have voiced support for protesters who have spoken out against Iranian leadership. Late last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Iranian people “are tired of the corruption, injustice, and incompetence from their leaders.”