“Give me your lunch money or I’ll beat you up,” says the school yard bully. So do Iranian leaders, this week.

They never had any intention of canceling their development of nuclear weapons, despite their agreement to suspend the project during former President Barack Obama’s administration. They signed the deal solely to gain economic benefits, including the release of $150 billion in assets that had been seized by the United States many years ago.

Once President Donald Trump said this country was pulling out of the so-called “Iran deal” and would enforce economic sanctions against the nation, Tehran promptly put the pedal to the metal on its nuclear weapons program.

That has aroused concern among other signatories to the deal. Leaders of some European nations, including Germany, Britain and France, have called on the Iranians to keep “Iran deal” promises, even though the United States no longer is a party to the arrangement. If not, European leaders have warned they, too, may have to impose economic sanctions on Iran.

That sent the fanatic, militant leaders of Iran into a frenzy. This week, they warned of dire consequences if European sanctions are approved.

On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened that European soldiers in the Middle East “could be in danger.”

In other words, if the three nations named above dare to insist that Iran keep its word to them on nuclear weapons, terrorist attacks will be launched against the countries’ military forces.

This is all about money, of course. With its economy already on the ropes because of U.S. sanctions, Iranian leaders know action by European countries could be fatal to their regime.

So the bully is saying: “Give us your money, or we’ll kill your soldiers and build nuclear weapons.”

Giving in to school yard bullies merely ensures they will continue to threaten — and sometimes use — violence, of course. Let us hope the leaders of Germany, England and France recognize Iran is no different.