John Bolton: The Conflict is with the Ayatollahs, Not the People of Iran

National Security Advisor Donald Trump's John Bolton stated on Wednesday, October 3, that Iran has not halted its nuclear program and reports indicate an increase in Tehran's activities in this area. According to news reports, Bolton said that the conflict is with the Ayatollahs, not the people of Iran. He emphasized that the Ayatollahs have turned Iran into a rogue state. The U.S. National Security Advisor also responded to a tweet from Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday, which referred to the U.S. as a 'rogue regime.' Bolton stated that Iran is a 'rogue regime' and its central bank is involved in 'international terrorism,' adding that he does not take Iranian officials' statements seriously. In response to a question about the policy of 'regime change in Iran,' he reiterated that the U.S. policy is not 'regime change in Iran,' but rather seeking fundamental changes in the regime's behavior. The U.S. National Security Advisor added, 'The President has directed all of us in the government to focus our activities on reapplying sanctions and other necessary measures to ensure maximum pressure is applied to this regime.' Bolton identified the goal of these actions as 'forcing Iran to cease its destructive activities not only in its nuclear program but even beyond its borders.' The United States withdrew from the nuclear agreement with six world powers on May 8 and reinstated suspended sanctions against Iran in mid-August. In recent months, the two countries have engaged in intense verbal warfare, accusing each other of violating international regulations and agreements. A new tension arose on Wednesday when the International Court of Justice requested that the U.S. ensure its unilateral sanctions against Iran do not negatively affect essential goods or the safety of passenger flights. Tehran considered this ruling a 'political victory' for itself, and hours later, the U.S. Secretary of State announced that it would withdraw from the 'Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations and Consular Rights' between the two countries. In his Wednesday remarks, Bolton noted that 'Iran is abusing the International Court of Justice,' stating, 'We are reviewing all international agreements that may still legally bind the United States, namely dispute resolution through the International Court of Justice.' The U.S. National Security Advisor emphasized that 'the United States will not remain silent against baseless political claims made against us.' Regarding the withdrawal from the 'non-binding protocol of the 1961 Vienna Convention,' Bolton stated that the Trump administration has decided to exit this protocol due to the Palestinians' complaint against Washington for moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Bolton expressed, 'I want to emphasize that the United States will remain a member of the main Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations and expects all parties to adhere to international regulations under this convention.' The Palestinian Authority filed a complaint against the U.S. with the International Court of Justice in The Hague on September 28, requesting the court to compel Washington to reconsider its decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem. The Authority cited the 1961 Vienna Convention, which states that embassies must be located in areas under the official sovereignty of the host government. The Authority argued in its complaint that Israel has militarily occupied East Jerusalem for 51 years, and this 'questionable sovereignty' has not been recognized by the international community.