US-Iran: John Bolton warns Iran of ‘hell to pay’ if crossed

US National Security Adviser John Bolton has warned Iran’s rulers that there will be “hell to pay” if they harm the US, its citizens or allies.

His comments came hours after President Donald Trump accused Iran of sowing “chaos, death and destruction” across the Middle East.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded by criticising the Trump administration for its hostility.

The US recently imposed sanctions after leaving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

The accord, negotiated by former President Barack Obama, saw Iran limit its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

The remaining signatories are standing by the deal. The UK, China, France, Germany and Russia say they will set up a new payment system to maintain business with Iran and bypass US sanctions.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the plan as “one of the most counterproductive measures imaginable”.

What did the US say about Iran?

Mr Bolton said the “murderous regime” of “mullahs in Tehran” would face significant consequences if they continued to “lie, cheat and deceive”.

The former US envoy to the UN was speaking at an anti-Iran conference in New York on Tuesday.

“If you cross us, our allies, or our partners; if you harm our citizens,” he said, “there will indeed be hell to pay.”

“Let my message today be clear: We are watching, and we will come after you.”

Mr Bolton, who has argued for military action against Iran in the past, said the US would be aggressive in enforcing economic sanctions.

Meanwhile, President Trump defended his decision to abandon the nuclear deal while speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York.

“Iran’s leaders sow chaos, death and destruction,” he said.

“They do not respect their neighbours or borders or the sovereign rights of nations. Instead, Iran’s leaders plunder the nation’s resources to enrich themselves and spread mayhem across the Middle East and far beyond.”

He believes renewed economic pressure will force Iran to agree to a new deal.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump is due to lead a UN Security Council meeting on Iran and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

How did Iran respond?

Mr Rouhani said dialogue should begin by ending threats and what he called “unjust sanctions”, adding that no nation could be brought to the negotiating table by force.

“The United States’ understanding of international relations is authoritarian. In its estimation might makes right. Its understanding of power, not of legal and legitimate authority, is reflected in bullying and imposition,” he said in New York.

Iran has accused Mr Trump of waging “psychological warfare” against it and denies any involvement in terrorism. It insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful.

In August, the US reinstated sanctions targeting the Iranian government’s purchase of US dollars, Iran’s trade in gold and other precious metals, and its automotive sector.

The value of Iran’s currency, the rial, has been damaged by the new US policy.

In November, a second batch of potentially more damaging sanctions will be re-imposed on Iran’s oil and shipping sectors as well as its central bank.

Where do other key nations stand?

The remaining members in the nuclear deal say they will set up a new payment system to allow oil companies and businesses to continue trading without relying on the US-led global market and dollar.

Exactly how the system would work is still being determined.

The plan has infuriated the US.

Mr Pompeo said: “I was disturbed and indeed deeply disappointed to hear remaining parties in the Iran deal announce they are setting up a special payment system to bypass US sanctions.

“By sustaining revenues to the regime you are solidifying Iran’s ranking as number one state sponsor of terror.”

The EU had also earlier vowed to protect firms against the impact of US sanctions for doing legitimate business with Iran.

In his speech at the UN, French President Emmanuel Macron called for “dialogue and multilateralism” on Iran, remarks widely seen as directed at Mr Trump.