US State Department Spokesperson: Iran Must Understand a New Era Has Begun

US State Department spokesperson, Tami Bruce, stated that the 'maximum pressure' campaign imposed by the United States against the Islamic Republic is a way for countries around the world and the Iranian government to 'learn' that the US has the necessary 'resources' to protect its interests and will act to safeguard them. She said the goal of the Trump administration's 'maximum pressure' campaign is for the Islamic Republic and other countries to understand that 'bad actors in the world, such as the main state sponsor of terrorism, [the Islamic Republic of] Iran, will not be embraced or encouraged due to their nefarious actions.' Tami Bruce, in an interview with Fox News, mentioned that another aim of the 'maximum pressure' campaign is to show that the US will not ignore the malicious actions of these countries. The spokesperson emphasized that countries engaging in malicious activities want their actions to be overlooked. She further stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran 'must understand that a new era has begun.' Tami Bruce explained that 'maximum pressure' is a means to exert influence through 'economic measures' instead of resorting to military force and war, while also making the rest of the world aware that the US defends its interests and those of the global populace. President Donald Trump reiterated on Wednesday that he will not allow the Islamic Republic of Iran to possess nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear monitoring arm, indicates that the Islamic Republic now has enough enriched uranium to produce six nuclear bombs. Other statements from Iranian officials suggest that direct negotiations with the US are currently not possible, and there are concerns about the economic pressure on the Iranian economy. Israel has targeted those responsible for smuggling weapons from the Islamic Republic to Hezbollah, and warnings have been issued regarding the Islamic Republic's uranium reserves nearing the threshold for bomb production. The Israeli Foreign Minister stated that military options against the Islamic Republic must remain on the table.