Mike Pompeo threatens 'strongest sanctions in history' and vows to 'crush' Iranian proxies
Mike Pompeo offered Iran a new deal CREDIT: AP
Ben Riley-Smith, us editor Nick Allen, Washington editor
21 MAY 2018 • 3:01PM

Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, threatened Iran with the "strongest sanctions in history" and vowed to "crush" the regime's proxies around the world.

Mr Pompeo also called for a new nuclear treaty with Iran to replace the Obama-era deal that Donald Trump withdrew from earlier this month.

But the top US diplomat issued a list of 12 requirements for such a deal, many of which Iran would be unlikely to agree to.

He said the US would apply "unprecedented financial pressure" on Iran and send teams of specialists to allies around the world to explain US policy.

Mr Pompeo said if Iran makes "major changes" the US was willing to lift all sanctions.

Iran deal was a 'loser'
Delivering his first major foreign policy speech since taking the job, Mr. Pompeo doubled down on the United States' decision to quit the Iran nuclear deal earlier this month.

He framed the 2015 deal as allowing Iran to increase its malign influence across the Middle East on the back of funding from renewed trade with the West.

Mr Pompeo accused the Iranian regime of "playing with house money that has become blood money." And he told the regime: "Understand your current activities will be met with steely resolve."

He added: "The Obama administration made a bet. That bet was a loser with massive repercussions.

"The bet was a bad one for the US, for Europe, and for the world. Iran's leaders saw it as a starting gun for the march across the Middle East."

He added: "We will track down Iranian operatives and their proxies around the world and we will crush them."

America 'open' to a new deal
Mr Pompeo called for a new treaty with Iran, ratified by Congress, that ends enrichment and gives inspectors access.

He said Iran must "stop enrichment" of uranium, which was allowed within strict limitations under the 2015 deal.

Iran must also allow nuclear inspectors "unqualified access to all sites throughout the country."

The Iranians must also declare all previous efforts to build a nuclear weapon, he said.

Mr Pompeo also demanded that Iran must end support for Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen, withdraw all forces from Syria, halt support for Hezbollah and stop threatening Israel.

It must also release all US citizens missing in Iran or being held on "spurious charges."

Mr Pompeo said if Iran made "major changes" the US would be willing to lift all sanctions, restoring full diplomatic and commercial ties.

The US. would even support the modernisation of Iran's economy and help it reintegrate into the global financial system, he said.

He added: "A treaty would be our preferred way to go."

Pompeo reaches out to European allies
Mr Pompeo reached out to European and Middle Eastern allies to help ramp up economic pressure on Iran.

He said: "We want the support of our most important allies," adding that he welcomed backing from any other nation "sick and tired" of Iran.

He said the plan "may seem unrealistic" but what the US was pursuing was the global consensus before the 2015 Iran deal.

"Our ears are open to what may be possible," he said, adding that progress with North Korea showed what could be achieved.

Other signatories of the 2015 Ian deal - Britain, France, Germany, the European Union, China, Russia and Iran - have said they will try to keep the agreement alive.

Mr Pompeo said: "I know our allies in Europe may try to keep the old nuclear deal going with Tehran. That is certainly their decision. They know where we stand."

The future of the 2015 deal remains in the balance, with Iran saying it will only keep to the agreement if the economic benefits gained from it remain in place.

American allies have been clamouring for the Trump administration to explain its 'Plan B' approach to Iran after unilaterally quitting the deal.

US 'fully prepared' to respond if Iran resumes nuclear programme
Mr Pompeo said the US was ready if Iran chose to resume its nuclear programme.

He said: "Our demands on Iran are not unreasonable - give up your programme.

"Should they choose to go back, should they begin to enrich, we are fully prepared to respond to that as well. I hope they will make a different decision, choose a different path."

He did not say what the US response would be.

European businesses would have to cut ties with Iran
Much of the effectiveness of the Trump administration's reimposition of sanctions depends on European businesses cutting economic ties with Iran.

Firms in the EU have taken much more advantage of the 2015 waiving of sanctions to sign contracts increasing business in Iran than those in America.

The EU exported over €10.8 billion (£9.4 billion) worth of goods to Iran in 2017, half of which was made up by machinery and transport. That is up from €6.5 billion (£5.7 billion) in 2015.

Senior Trump administration officials have threatened to impose 'secondary sanctions' on European businesses if they refuse to cancel their contracts.

In return the EU has moved to reimpose a "blocking statue" originally meant to circumvent the US embargo against Cuba in the 1990s that would protect European businesses.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/21/mike-pompeo-demand-eu-pressure-iran-reveals-plan-b-nuclear-deal/

Righteousness89:
I-ran and Fellow Ranters Over to you...

Let's see your Power here....

You are happy wirh this right? Btw, what makes you happy about this news?

Righteousness89:


I-ran and Fellow Ranters Over to you...

Let's see your Power here....

I Love This Statement; " and Stop Threatening Isreal"

It would be interesting to see how they would respond.

ollah2:



You are happy wirh this right? Btw, what makes you happy about this news?

Iran is playing with the big boys now.

OLAADEGBU:


Iran is playing with the big boys now.

Why Don't you go get a life charlatan. Americans don't want no war but an interloper like you who doesn't contribute a Nickel to America is always looking for my beloved country to do your dirty work. Don't you have something better to do with your life except your worthless jingoism.

Lucasbalo:


Why Don't you go get a life charlatan. Americans don't want no war but an interloper like you who doesn't contribute a Nickel to America is always looking for my beloved country to do your dirty work. Don't you have something better to do with your life except your worthless jingoism.

Are you saying President Trump is now your President? See the enemy of State shedding crocodile tears for his 'beloved country.' All liberals headed by Obama are sworn enemies of United States and are doing everything to bring it down to its knees. Watch your back because President Trump is coming for you.

OLAADEGBU:


Are you saying President Trump is now your President? See the enemy of State shedding crocodile tears for his 'beloved country.' All liberals headed by Obama are sworn enemies of United States and are doing everything to bring it down to its knees. Watch your back because President Trump is coming for you.

Fvck You and that racist pig named Trampy. At least i am not hiding my identity like some charlatan from nowhere.

Lucasbalo:


Fvck You and that racist pig named Trampy. At least i am not hiding my identity like some charlatan from nowhere.

I give that you. The fact that you have not denied that you are the said Shuaib depicted in the pix below shows you to be be bold.

OLAADEGBU:


I give that you. The fact that you have not denied that you are the said Shuaib depicted in the pix below shows you to be be bold.

I live in Chitown and three hours North of me in Northern Indiana is a KKK joint looking for House Negro like you to come and be their mascot. That job will fit you perfectly well since you are a useful idioooit to a vile racist named Trampy. Your case is like a Tiger trainer riding on top of a Tiger, he will end up at the belly of the Tiger. Trampy a*s licking charlatan.

Lucasbalo:


I live in Chitown and three hours North of me in Northern Indiana is a KKK joint looking for House Negro like you to come and be their mascot. That job will fit you perfectly well since you are a useful idioooit to a vile racist named Trampy. Your case is like a Tiger trainer riding on top of a Tiger, he will end up at the belly of the Tiger. Trampy a*s licking charlatan.

Are you saying this is not you?

OLAADEGBU:


Are you saying President Trump is now your President? See the enemy of State shedding crocodile tears for his 'beloved country.' All liberals headed by Obama are sworn enemies of United States and are doing everything to bring it down to its knees. Watch your back because President Trump is coming for you.

In saner climes dimwit like you need to be euthanize and enslave. You are an epitome of idiocy.

Kophschmerzen:


In saner climes dimwit like you need to be euthanize and enslave. You are an epitome of idiocy.

That guy is mentally unbalanced. He sold his soul to the devil and the worst part of it is that the charlatan don't even have no ball in the game just like most of the brainstems here kissing the rear of the racist pig named Cadet Bonespurs.

OLAADEGBU:


Are you saying this is not you?

Like i said before, you need to check in at the nearest psychiatric hospital. Tell me in which city, county or state you live in US to be so obsessed with a racist pig and a pathological lying misogynist with approval rating in the sewage ?. A guy that never contribute a Cent to Uncle Sam but want to die for Trampy that think of him as a subhuman being. Boy, you are beyond redemption.

there is no "feasible" way to impose "the strongest sanctions in history" on Iran for the following reasons;

1) as powerful as the u.s. is, it is impossible to impose effective sanctions without the full co-operation of china. China has no incentive to go along with sanctions cause it supports the Nuclear deal and probably knows that if it caves to the u.s. unilaterally renegade of the deal, it would hurt their credibility in terms of their long term goal as an effective alternative to the u.s.
2) Russia also has no incentive to go along with the sanctions. the Russians really couldn't give a flying Bleep about Iran 's ballistic missile program and it's "support of terror". quite the contrary, they see Iran as an effective means of frustrating u.s. middle eastern goals (the u.s. inept strategy only makes matters worse)

3) the European Union will have no choice but to go along with the u.s. but in the long run, it's poor strategy to cause such monumental embarrassment to allies where it can be avoided (as is the case here). even the Europeans acknowledged that the deal had flaws but most republicans seem to have suffered a case of short term memory coz I can still remember the time before the deal when even a hint of Iran's nuclear program had the world on edge. the deal at least removed the biggest threat Iran posed. the fact that trump chose to renegade on the deal despite public pleas from his allies hurts u.s. credibility with same allies in the long run. it's quite possible (in the absolute worst case scenario) that we could see the rise of political movements in Europe seeking to severe ties with the u.s. . the fact that there is even a chance of that should be frightening.

4) perhaps the most frightening reason why the "strongest sanctions in history" can't be imposed on Iran is due to the fact that the strongest sanctions in history were ALREADY imposed on Iran. by the Obama administration. more specifically, Obama through hillary Clinton, actively lobbied all the economic powerhouses in the world (i.e. G7+) to also impose similar sanctions on Iran in a united front. Obama was able to do this by playing on the ONE FACTOR that truly terrified every nation on earth. the possibility of a nuclear iran. that was why the nuclear deal focused solely on nuclear weapons. it was the sole factor that truly united the world. now that that's been effectively shredded, no one is going to want to come back to the table to renegotiate a common problem which they already solved.

JUHABACH:
there is no "feasible" way to impose "the strongest sanctions in history" on Iran for the following reasons;

1) as powerful as the u.s. is, it is impossible to impose effective sanctions without the full co-operation of china. China has no incentive to go along with sanctions cause it supports the Nuclear deal and probably knows that if it caves to the u.s. unilaterally renegade of the deal, it would hurt their credibility in terms of their long term goal as an effective alternative to the u.s.
2) Russia also has no incentive to go along with the sanctions. the Russians really couldn't give a flying Bleep about Iran 's ballistic missile program and it's "support of terror". quite the contrary, they see Iran as an effective means of frustrating u.s. middle eastern goals (the u.s. inept strategy only makes matters worse)

3) the European Union will have no choice but to go along with the u.s. but in the long run, it's poor strategy to cause such monumental embarrassment to allies where it can be avoided (as is the case here). even the Europeans acknowledged that the deal had flaws but most republicans seem to have suffered a case of short term memory coz I can still remember the time before the deal when even a hint of Iran's nuclear program had the world on edge. the deal at least removed the biggest threat Iran posed. the fact that trump chose to renegade on the deal despite public pleas from his allies hurts u.s. credibility with same allies in the long run. it's quite possible (in the absolute worst case scenario) that we could see the rise of political movements in Europe seeking to severe ties with the u.s. . the fact that there is even a chance of that should be frightening.

4) perhaps the most frightening reason why the "strongest sanctions in history" can't be imposed on Iran is due to the fact that the strongest sanctions in history were ALREADY imposed on Iran. by the Obama administration. more specifically, Obama through hillary Clinton, actively lobbied all the economic powerhouses in the world (i.e. G7+) to also impose similar sanctions on Iran in a united front. Obama was able to do this by playing on the ONE FACTOR that truly terrified every nation on earth. the possibility of a nuclear iran. that was why the nuclear deal focused solely on nuclear weapons. it was the sole factor that truly united the world. now that that's been effectively shredded, no one is going to want to come back to the table to renegotiate a common problem which they already solved.

The European Union is not going with the Americans on this one because the Iran Nuclear deal has been proven to be effective as confirmed by the IAEA and was ratified by the UN Security Council. The EU spokesperson has already confirmed that the United States is on its own as Europe fully intends to stick with the deal. The US basically just isolated itself.

ocelot2006:


The European Union is not going with the Americans on this one because the Iran Nuclear deal has been proven to be effective as confirmed by the IAEA and was ratified by the UN Security Council. The EU spokesperson has already confirmed that the United States is on its own as Europe fully intends to stick with the deal. The US basically just isolated itself.

nah. Europe will cave sooner or later. however they are probably having a rethink about their relationship with the u.s. which is in itself, a bad omen.