Shortly after Donald Trump promised to intensify economic pressure on Iran at the United Nations General Assembly, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton doubled down on his tough stance, calling Tehran an “outlaw regime”.
Speaking at a conference hosted by United Against Nuclear Iran in New York, Mr Pompeo argued that the Iranian regime has not lived with other nations in peace, naming attacks that Tehran has carried out or attempted to perpetrate in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
“The Iranian regime is more concerned with heavy water than drinking water,” he said, estimating that it provides more than "$100 million each year to terror groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.”
Calling Iran one of the “worst violators of the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolutions,” Mr Pompeo said “it is truly an outlaw regime”.
The State Department’s new Iran Action Group has released a 48-page report that chronicles Iran’s destabilising activities around the world.
But later in the speech and amid reports that the European Union, Russia and China have agreed on a "special purpose vehicle" that would allow countries to deal with Iran while avoiding US sanctions, Mr Pompeo aimed his fire at the Europeans.
“Unfortunately, just last night I was disturbed and, indeed, deeply disappointed to hear remaining parties in the Iran [nuclear] deal announce they are setting up a special payment system to bypass US sanctions. This is one of the most counterproductive measures imaginable for regional global peace and security,” he said.
“By sustaining revenues to the regime you are solidifying Iran’s ranking as (the) number one state sponsor of terror,” he warned.
Mr Bolton echoed this message in his speech.
“We do not intend for our sanctions to be evaded by Europe or anybody else,” he said. But he also ridiculed the EU as "strong on rhetoric, weak on follow through.”
He said that “there will be hell to pay” if Iran attacks the US or its allies.
“According to the mullahs in Tehran, we are 'the Great Satan,' lord of the underworld, master of the raging inferno … If you cross us, our allies, or our partners; if you harm our citizens; if you continue to lie, cheat and deceive, yes, there will indeed be hell to pay” he said.
“Let my message today be very clear: We are watching and we will come after you,” Mr Bolton ended by saying.
Three protesters, one with sign that read “peace with Iran”, interrupted Mr Pompeo’s speech and were ejected from the room.
