Trump and top aides target Iran, suddenly escalating tensions

WASHINGTON - In an abrupt escalation of tensions with Iran, President Donald Trump is threatening the Islamic Republic with war unless it changes its ways, in concert with senior advisers who are speaking out on separate fronts.

Critics immediately branded the threats as Trump's attempt to divert attention from widespread, bipartisan criticism of his troubled dealings with Russia, censure that has only grown since last week's Helsinki summit with President Vladimir Putin and amid attention to the upcoming trial of his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort.

But in contrast to the Russia controversy, where Trump's embrace of Putin has seemed oddly at cross-purposes with the tough policies of his own administration, on Iran senior officials echoed the president Sunday and Monday by their tough talk, just weeks before the administration plans to slap