White House Press Secretary Jay Carney dismissed Iranian war games and criticism of the United States Navy, as he suggested that shows of Iranian force reflect the country’s increasing weakness, adding that Iran should expect the sanctions to continue.
“Iran is in a position of weakness,” Carney said during today’s press briefing when asked about Iran’s posture of increasing aggression. “Iran is isolated and is seeking to divert attention from its behavior and domestic problems. This is simply a measure of the impact that sanctions have been having on Iran and the broad international support for putting pressure on Iran and isolating Iran.”
He noted reports that the Iranian currency has lost value since the increase in sanctions on the country (which include financial sanctions on the Iranian central bank by the United Kingdom). “I think that [economic impact of sanctions] continues and this [aggression] is more indication of that,” Carney concluded.
