Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened the Iranian regime with harsher sanctions should they fail to comply with the United States’ set of demands.
In a speech at The Heritage Foundation, Pompeo explained that they were going to call on Iran to end their ballistic missile program, allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to have access to all of their nuclear developments sites and end their support of terrorists like Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Should Iran fail to acquiesce to these demands, they will face additional sanctions.
“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,” Pompeo said. “It will not have the resources to do both.”
Pompeo also warned Iran that they would face “bigger problems” if they restart their nuclear program and made it clear that the U.S. would not accept Iranian aggression in the Middle East.
“We will ensure freedom of navigation on the waters in the region,” Pompeo declared. “We will work to prevent and counteract any Iranian malign cyber activity. We will track down Iranian operatives and their Hezbollah proxies operating around the world and crush them.”
Pompeo told the Iranian people that the U.S. stands with them.
“Is this what you want your country to be known for? For being a co-conspirator with Hezbollah, Hamas, the Taliban, and Al Qaeda?” Pompeo said. “The United States believes you deserve better.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was not pleased with Pompeo’s speech.
“Who are you to decide for Iran and the world? The world today does not accept America to decide for the world, as countries are independent… that era is over…” Rouhani told Iranian state media. “We will continue our path with the support of our nation.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other hand, praised Pompeo’s speech at an event celebrating Paraguay moving their embassy to Jerusalem.
“No enrichment, tough sanctions and Iran should get out of Syria,” Netanyahu said. “We believe that it’s only policy that can ultimately guarantee peace. We call on all countries to follow America’s lead here.”
