John Bolton warns Iran not to mistake US ‘prudence’ for weakness

Israel, along with Arab countries in the Gulf, considers Iran to be their greatest threat, and Trump's last-minute about-face appears to have raised questions about US willingness to use force against the Islamic Republic.

US deploying carrier, bombers to Middle East to deter Iran: John Bolton — John Bolton, a longtime Iran hawk, emphasized that the US reserved the right to attack at a later point. He also said a new set of sanctions on Iran are expected to be announced Monday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

US National Security Adviser John Bolton said Sunday that Iran should not “mistake US prudence and discretion for weakness,” after the US abruptly called off military strikes against Iran in response to the shooting down of an unmanned American surveillance drone. Bolton’s tough message seemed to be aimed not only at Tehran but also at reassuring key US allies that the White House remains committed to maintaining pressure on Iran.