Mike Pompeo Declares: 'Iran Will Never Again Have Carte Blanche to Dominate the Middle East'

George Thomas
05-22-2018

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CBN News' Middle East experts Gary Lane, Chris Mitchell and George Thomas breakdown Sec. of State Mike Pompeo's speech and discuss implications for future US-Iran policy.

Weeks after President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a controversial Iranian nuclear agreement, the White House is laying the groundwork for how it is going to deal with the Islamic regime's nuclear ambitions.

"As President Trump said two weeks ago, he is ready, willing and able to negotiate a new deal, but the deal is not the objective," said U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo, during a speech at The Heritage Foundation. "Any new agreement will make sure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and deter the regime's malign behavior in a way that the JCPOA never could."

In his first major foreign policy address as America's top diplomat, Pompeo said the White House will lay the framework for what is going to be "unprecedented" pressure campaign against the Iranian government.

"We will apply unprecedented financial pressure on the Iranian regime The leaders in Tehran will have no doubt about our seriousness," Pompeo warned. "The sting of sanctions will be painful if the regime doesn't change... these will indeed end up being the strongest sanctions in history when we are complete."

The White House wants Iran to comply with 12 demands and in exchange, the United States would be willing to lift all sanctions and restore full diplomatic and commercial ties with Iran.

"You know that list is pretty long, but if you take a look at it, these are 12 very basic requirements," Pompeo said. "The length of the list is simply in the scope of the malign behavior of Iran. We didn't create the list, they did."

List of America's 12 Demands of Iran:

1. End its nuclear program
2. Provide complete access to all nuclear sites and facilities
3. Stop its proliferation of ballistic missiles
4. Release all US citizens and citizens of other partner allies
5. Stop financial and military support of Hamas and Hezbollah
6. End support of armed militia groups
7. Cease support of the Houthi rebels fighting in Yemen
8. Withdraw all forces from Syria
9. Stop funding Taliban and other terror groups in Afghanistan
10. Cease all support for global terror activities
11. Stop threatening the United States
12. Stop cyber attacks

"From my conversation with European friends, I know that they broadly share these same views, of what the Iranian regime must do to gain acceptance in the international community," Pompeo said about the demands.

In addition to the list of demands, Pompeo vowed that the U.S. and its allies are going to "track down Iranian operatives and their Hezbollah proxies operating around the world and crush them."

"Iran will never again have carte blanche to dominate the Middle East," Pompeo added.

Experts say Pompeo's speech represents a seismic shift in America's policy toward Iran.

"Basically, this a big shift from what we have seen for the last 8 years under the Obama administration," said CBN's chief international correspondent Gary Lane, who travels frequently throughout the Middle East. "This is a change, this is shifting away from more of an accommodation of the Iranians to taking them on."

The secretary of state also had a message for the Iranian people: "Today, we ask the Iranian people: Is this what you want your country to be known for? For being a co-conspirator with Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Taliban?" asked Pompeo.

Mr. Pompeo urged Iran's ruling mullahs to "to summon the courage to do something historically beneficial for its own people, for this ancient and proud nation."

"For two generations the Iranian regime as exacted a heavy toll on its own people and the world," Pompeo said. "The hard grip of repression is all that millions of Iranians have ever known."

Pompeo's speech comes on the heels of Trump decision earlier this month to withdraw from the 2015 deal brokered by President Barack Obama, Iran, and world powers.

"Unlike the previous administration we are looking for outcomes that benefit the Iranian people, not just the regime," Pompeo said.

CBN News' Middle East bureau chief Chris Mitchell called Mr. Pompeo's speech very strong language.

"I think this is for many people here in the Middle East a breath of fresh air when the Trump administration is really holding Iran accountable for all the things they are doing here in the Middle East," Mitchell said shortly after Pompeo's speech.

Israel's prime minister welcomed the new Trump administration's strategy on dealing with Iran.

"No enrichment, tough sanctions, and Iran should get out of Syria, we believe this is the right policy," prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Monday. "We believe it's the only policy that can ultimately guarantee the security of the Middle East and peace in our region."

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About The Author

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George
Thomas

Born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and of Indian descent, CBN News’ Senior International Correspondent and Co-Anchor, George Thomas, has been traveling the globe for more than 20 years, finding the stories of people, conflicts, and issues that must be told. He has reported from more than 100 countries and has had a front-row seat to numerous global events of our day. George’s stories of faith, struggle, and hope combine the expertise of a seasoned journalist with the inspiration of a deep calling to tell the stories of the people behind the news. “I’ve always liked discovering & exploring new
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