Trump tweets in Persian to send message to Iran on revolution’s anniversary

President Trump on Monday tweeted a message in Persian slamming Iran’s leadership on the 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution.

“40 years of corruption. 40 years of repression. 40 years of terror. The regime in Iran has produced only #40YearsofFailure. The long-suffering Iranian people deserve a much brighter future,” reads the tweet, which the president also sent out in English.

۴۰ سال فساد. ۴۰ سال سرکوب. ۴۰ سال ترور. رژیم ایران فقط موجب #چهل_سال_شکست شده است. مردم ایران که مدتهاست در رنجند شایسته آینده روشن تری هستند pic.twitter.com/nKMQCHQFCZ

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 11, 2019

Iran held a ceremony Monday to mark the anniversary of the 1979 revolution that transformed Iran into an Islamic republic, commemorating the day when followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini toppled the Shah of Iran.

{mosads}During the ceremony, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani touted the country’s military and pledged to overcome U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran.

“We will not let America become victorious … Iranian people have and will have some economic difficulties but we will overcome the problems by helping each other,” Rouhani said.

The Trump administration has taken a hard-line approach to Iran, with Trump pulling out of the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran last year. As part of withdrawing from the agreement, the Trump administration has reimposed sanctions that are squeezing Iran’s economy.

The administration is also hosting a global conference in Poland this week to discuss the Middle East, expected to focus largely on Iran. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vice President Pence will be in attendance.

Critics have accused the Trump administration of pursuing a pro-regime change agenda for Iran, particularly as it expressed support for protests against the government last year. Administration officials have denied they are pushing regime change.

National security adviser John Bolton, who in 2017 said he hoped Iran’s revolution “will not last until its 40th birthday,” on Monday tweeted the United States supports “the will of the Iranian people.” 

“After 40 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has failed to fulfill its promises to uphold and safeguard the rights of its citizens. The 40th anniversary of the Iranian regime only serves to highlight four decades of failure and broken promises,” Bolton tweeted.

“It’s been 40 yrs of failure,” he added in a second tweet. “Now it’s up to the Iranian regime to change its behavior, & ultimately up to the Iranian people to determine the direction of their country. The U.S. will support the will of the Iranian people, & stand behind them to ensure their voices are heard.”

After 40 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has failed to fulfill its promises to uphold and safeguard the rights of its citizens. The 40th anniversary of the Iranian regime only serves to highlight four decades of failure and broken promises.

— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) February 11, 2019

It’s been 40 yrs of failure. Now it’s up to the Iranian regime to change its behavior, & ultimately up to the Iranian people to determine the direction of their country. The U.S. will support the will of the Iranian people, & stand behind them to ensure their voices are heard.

— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) February 11, 2019