Iranian officials say Trump warned them about imminent strike

President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and National Security Adviser John Bolton

(Image credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

last updated 21 June 2019

Iranian officials told Reuters on Friday that President Trump had sent Tehran a message via Oman warning about an imminent strike, which he reportedly called off before any missiles were fired. “In his message, Trump said he was against any war with Iran and wanted to talk to Tehran about various issues," one official said. "He gave a short period of time to get our response, but Iran's immediate response was that it is up to Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei to decide about this issue."

"We made it clear that the leader is against any talks, but the message will be conveyed to him to make a decision," a second official told Reuters. "However, we told the Omani official that any attack against Iran will have regional and international consequences."

Trump had reportedly authorized the predawn strike on radar and missile installations in retaliation for Iran downing a U.S. surveillance drone early Thursday. If The New York Times is correct that "Trump ordered — and then aborted — an attack on Iran," or even if it has some details wrong, that "sends a powerful message to Tehran in itself, says BBC News defense correspondent Jonathan Marcus. But as the U.S. and Iran flirt with direct conflict, which message will Iran's leadership receive "in this complex game of signaling"?

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"The danger now is that Iran receives mixed messages that convey uncertainty and lack of resolve," leading "some in Tehran to push back at the Americans even harder," Marcus adds. "There appears to be no easy diplomatic 'off-ramp' in this crisis. U.S. economic sanctions are hitting home. Tehran is under pressure. Escalation remains an ever-present danger."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.