Gen. Michael Flynn issued a stern warning to Iran on Wednesday after the Islamic republic tested a ballistic missile. ‘As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice,’. 

President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor told reporters during a White House press briefing that the administration ‘condemns such actions by Iran that undermine security, prosperity and stability throughout and beyond the Middle East that puts American lives at risk.’

‘As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice,’ he said.

It wasn’t clear what that notice means, or what consequences Iran can expect if it continues to test missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Senior administration officials wouldn’t rule out military action or sanctions during a separate briefing with reporters that came later. Officials said ‘a large number of options’ are being considered and would not reveal what those are other than to say that they include financial and economic actions.

‘We are considering a whole range of options. We are in a deliberative process,’ one said.

Flynn said that ‘Iran is now feeling emboldened,’ and criticized the Obama administration for failing ‘to respond adequately to Tehran’s malign actions, including weapons transfers, support for terrorism and other violations of international norms.’ Administration officials, speaking on background to reporters, said Wednesday afternoon that the Republican president was taking a ‘different perspective’ than his predecessor.

‘Iranian behavior needs to be rethought by Tehran,’ one said.

An official said, ‘There should be no doubt that the United States is committed to holding Iran accountable for adhering to missile restrictions and accountable for behavior in the region that we consider to be destabilizing.’

Below is the official statement released by National Security Advisor Michael Flynn during the White House’s daily press briefing:

‘Recent Iranian actions, involving a provocative ballistic missile launch and an attack against a Saudi naval vessel conducted by Iran-supported Houthi militants, underscore what should have been clear to the international community all along about Iran’s destabilizing behavior across entire the Middle East.

‘The recent ballistic missile launch is also in defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which calls upon Iran “not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”

‘These are just the latest of a series of incidents in the past six months in which Houthi forces that Iran has trained and armed have struck Emirati and Saudi vessels, and threatened United States and allied vessels transiting the Red Sea. In these and other similar activities, Iran continues to threaten U.S. friends and allies in the region.

‘The Obama Administration failed to respond adequately to Tehran’s malign actions, including weapons transfers, support for terrorism and other violations of international norms. The Trump Administration condemns such actions by Iran that undermine security, prosperity, and stability throughout and beyond the Middle East and place – which places American lives at risk.

‘President Trump has severely criticized the various agreements reached between Iran and the Obama Administration, as well as the United Nations, as being weak and ineffective.

‘Instead of being thankful to the United States in these agreements, Iran is now feeling emboldened.

‘As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice. Thank you.’

The Daily Caller copy / TRUNEWS contribution.