After Missile Test, War of Words Erupts Between Trump and Iran

WASHINGTON — A day after the Trump administration put Iran on notice for its launch of a ballistic missile, a war of words erupted between the American president and the Iranian government, with President Trump insulting Tehran on Twitter and the Iranians responding in kind.

A top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Thursday that Iran would not be intimidated by threats from “an inexperienced person.” Mr. Trump’s national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, had warned Iran that it faced unspecified reprisals from the United States if it did not cease aggressive behavior toward its neighbors.

Mr. Trump echoed Mr. Flynn’s threat with a pair of early morning Twitter posts, in which he accused the Iranians of ingratitude for the nuclear deal negotiated with the West, which he asserted had rescued Iran from collapse.

The hostile statements have raised tensions between Iran and the United States to their highest levels since the signing of the nuclear deal in 2015. Some analysts said they worried that the harsh words could further escalate hostilities, and even precipitate a military confrontation, if Iran tests America with another missile launch.

The war of words with Iran came just hours after news had emerged of a combative phone call that took place on Saturday between Mr. Trump and Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, when Mr. Turnbull pressed the president to honor an American agreement to accept 1,250 refugees from an Australian detention center.

On Thursday morning, Mr. Trump told an audience at the National Prayer Breakfast, “When you hear about the tough phone calls I’m having, don’t worry about it.” He added: “We have to be tough. It’s time we’re going to be tough, folks. We’re taken advantage of by every nation in the world, virtually. It’s not going to happen anymore.”

But the administration tried to contain the fallout from the disagreement with Australia.

The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, said Mr. Trump would not block the transfer, provided the migrants are subjected to “extreme vetting,” even though he was “extremely upset” by the agreement.

“The president is unbelievably disappointed in the previous administration about the deal that was made,” Mr. Spicer said. But he added that Mr. Trump has “the ultimate respect for the prime minister and the Australian people.” And he contradicted news reports and previous characterizations by White House staff members that the call with Mr. Turnbull was combative.

The president himself waded into the issue later during comments at the White House, emphasizing that he would honor the Obama-era refugee agreement with Australia, if grudgingly.

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