What is behind the 52 targets that Trump has threatened to hit in Iran if it dares targeting Americans?

ARK News: Donald Trump on Saturday drew what may come to be seen as the most significant red line of his presidency in a three-part tweet, vowing specific military action against Iran if it "strikes any Americans, or American assets."

"We have ... targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture" and "if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets... Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD," Trump wrote in a series of tweets.

Trump reiterated his warning in a series of tweets early Sunday, saying the United States just spent $2 trillion on military equipment.

"We are the biggest and by far the BEST in the World! If Iran attacks an American Base, or any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment their way...and without hesitation!," he tweeted. "They attacked us, & we hit back. If they attack again, which I would strongly advise them not to do, we will hit them harder than they have ever been hit before!"

Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding the world of their terrorist leader who had just killed an American, & badly wounded many others, not to mention all of the people he had killed over his lifetime, including recently.

Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding the world of their terrorist leader who had just killed an American, & badly wounded many others, not to mention all of the people he had killed over his lifetime, including recently.

The administration has said it wants to de-escalate the crisis but Trump's threat to target Iranian cultural sites is likely to antagonize the Iranian population whether they support the government or not. It's also highly unusual for the US to target cultural rather than military sites, with some critics suggesting such action may violate international law.

Trump issued the red line despite the President having repeatedly criticized Obama for presenting and failing to enforce a red line regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Trump's comments come following the administration warning members of Congress that Iran is expected to retaliate against the US "within weeks" for the strike, even as they failed to convince some that the operation was merited due to an imminent threat against American lives.

The Department of Homeland Security also issued a warning on Saturday of the potential for Iranian attacks, including possible cyber threats.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin in the wake of the drone strike that details the attack and potential Iranian threat, including previous plots against US infrastructure and cyber targets.

"Iran maintains a robust cyber program and can execute cyber-attacks against the United States," reads the bulletin, which expires January 18.

The President has previously issued vague threats against adversaries like Iran and North Korea, but his string of tweets on Saturday was a marked shift because of its detailed nature and because it followed one of the most significant military actions of his presidency.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities," Trump tweeted from Florida. "They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat."

"I don't think that would be a good idea for Iran," Trump said, adding later that a potential conflict "would go very quickly."

Source: CNN

569