On 21st May, Mike Pompeo spoke at the Heritage Foundation where he discussed the Iran threat and the way forward. He said that Trump pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal because it did not succeed in guaranteeing the safety of US citizens. He explained that Trump and his administration want to see the Iranian threat end and see the complete halt of missiles being launched towards US allies and the cessation of Iran’s spread of chaos.
Pompei emphasised: “The JCPOA put the world at risk because of its fatal flaws.”
The nuclear deal does not stop the nuclear threat from Iran – it delays it thanks to the sunset provisions. Pompeo explained: “After the countdown clock ran out on the deal’s sunset provisions, Iran would be free for a quick sprint to the bomb, setting off a potentially catastrophic arms race in the region. Indeed, the very brevity of the delay in the Iranian nuclear program itself incentivized Middle Eastern proliferation.”
Another shortcoming was fact that the deal does not deal with Iran’s ballistic missile program that is being developed.
The US Secretary of State also commented on the plight of the people. “Today we ask the Iranian people: Is this what you want your country to be known for, for being a co-conspirator with Hizballah, Hamas, the Taliban, and al-Qaida? The United States believe you deserve better.”
He pointed out that the Iranian regime, instead of giving the people of Iran the help that it needs and deserves, is spending the nation’s wealth on its goal of obtaining a corridor from Iran to the Mediterranean so that it can easily move weapons and fighters across the region.
With regards to how the Trump administration will deal with Iran, he said: “America’s commitment to the Iran strategy President Trump laid down in October remains. It will now be executed outside of the JCPOA. We’ll continue to work with allies to counter the regime’s destabilizing activities in the region, block their financing of terror, and address Iran’s proliferation of missiles and other advanced weapons systems that threaten peace and stability. We will also ensure Iran has no path to a nuclear weapon – not now, not ever.”
He added that the US will “apply unprecedented financial pressure on the Iranian regime”. “The leaders in Tehran will have no doubt about our seriousness.”
As well as reapplying sanctions and drawing up new ones, Pompeo advised that the US is going to work with its allies to deter any aggression from Iran.
“Iran will be forced to make a choice: either fight to keep its economy off life support at home or keep squandering precious wealth on fights abroad. It will not have the resources to do both.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo testifies at the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill. (AP)
