Threatens Iran with 'obliteration' in a tweet after new sanctions

A day after imposing sanctions on Iran's Supreme Leader and other officials, and days after Iran downed a U.S. surveillance drone, Trump posted tweets threatening Iran, writing that "Any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration." He framed the threat as a response to what he called "Iran's very ignorant and insulting statement" and added, "No more John Kerry & Obama!" A follow-up tweet asserted that Iran's leadership only understands "Strength and Power." The threat of "obliteration" of areas of a country, made publicly on social media during an escalating military standoff, drew criticism as reckless brinkmanship.

"Any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration. No more John Kerry & Obama!" Quote verified against source