Tension between U.S. and Iran continue as Trump threatens to sink harassing Iranian naval vessels and Iran launches its first ever military satellite into orbit

WASHINGTON / TEHRAN – Tensions between the U.S. and Iran show no signs of easing. Yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had given the U.S. Navy permission to “blow up” any Iranian warships approaching U.S. ships after 11 Iranian warships harassed U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf.

The backdrop of President Trump’s statement was the launching of the first Iranian military satellite into space. Trump said that his administration was monitoring the situation closely, while his Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, called for Iran to be held accountable for the launch of a military satellite adding that he believed it was a violation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231.

U.S. military says long-range ballistic technology used to launch satellites will also allow Iran to launch longer-range weapons, which could carry nuclear warheads, a charge that Tehran has categorically denied.