Islam Times - Trump is playing with political fire by threatening others over Iran

Islam Times - An American political analyst said US President Donald Trump is playing with a political fire by threatening allies and others with sanctions if they keep interacting with Iran.

Wayne Madsen, an author and columnist specializing in intelligence and international affairs, said Wednesday that Trump’s warning to the Europeans that they should stop protecting a 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and join him on piling pressure on the Iranians was a threat that could backfire as it would weaken the position of the Republican Party in the November general elections.

“Mr. Trump is playing not only with economic fire, he is playing with political fire,” said Madsen.

“The Republican Party and Mr. Trump ... will pay a drastic political price in November. And I could almost see it. It's the end of the Republican Party," he stated.

The author reiterated that the Europeans will for sure seek to respond to US sanctions over Iran in November by enacting their blocking statue and impose retaliatory sanctions that could affect the automotive industry in the United States.

“People will be waking up on Election Day on Tuesday, November the sixth, to reports that stock markets and the commodities futures market are collapsing because of the new round of trade sanctions between the US and Europe, US and China, India and other counties that trade with Iran,” said Madsen.

He added that such a situation will affect the way people vote in November and lead to an eventual defeat for the Republicans.

“That will probably spell the end of the Republican Party and probably also the Trump administration which I would think that if the Democrats are able to win the House of Representatives and the Senate, Mr. Trump will be impeached and would be put on trial in the Senate and would be removed from office,” said the analyst.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump warned other countries against doing business with Tehran, saying they should abide by what he described as “the most biting” sanctions that he had imposed on Iran.

“The Iran sanctions have officially been cast. These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level," Trump wrote, adding “Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States. I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less.”

EU has put into force a law banning companies from complying with US sanctions or court rulings and enabling them to claim compensation for potential damage.

British Minister of State for the Middle East Alistair Burt said Europe can protect its companies from new US sanctions which were reinstated on Tuesday, as the EU activated a blocking statute to insulate firms against any fallout.