US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that the Iranian government is at its “weakest stage”, warning its leaders that any further escalation with the United States “will end it on our terms.”
Speaking at the Hoover Institute in California, Mr Pompeo said the Trump administration's strategy and actions including the killing of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani on January 2, have been aimed to "re-establish deterrence" against Tehran.
He said prior American administrations didn’t do enough to deter Iran, but that the “[Iranian] regime must certainly understand [now] what we will do for American lives”, following the Trump administration’s retaliation in Iraq to killing of US contractor.
While Mr Pompeo said he was grateful that Iran’s retaliation inside Iraq did not bring any casualties, he warned that if Tehran “escalates we will end it on our terms … we are determined not to lose this deference.”
-
Demonstrators chant while gathering during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was unintentionally shot down by Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, January 11. Bloomberg -
A mini bus passes at the site of US drone attack that killed the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, the deputy leader of the Popular Mobilization Forces militia, at the main road of Baghdad international Airport in Baghdad, Iraq. EPA -
A view of the site of US drone attack that killed Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis in Baghdad. EPA -
Placards carrying an obituary notice and the pictures of slain Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis at the site of US drone attack in Baghdad. EPA -
A view of the site of US drone attack that killed Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis in Baghdad. EPA -
Demonstrators chant while gathering during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was unintentionally shot down by Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, January 11. Bloomberg -
A woman reacts during a memorial service at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario on January 12, 2020 for the victims of Ukrainian Airlines flight 752 which was shot down over Iran this past week. AFP -
People commemorate Iranian Revolutionary Guards top commander Qassem Suleimani and Iraq's Hashed Al Shaabi military network deputy chief Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, killed in a US strike a week earlier, at the townhall square in Copenhagen, Denmark. AFP -
Demonstrators gather during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was unintentionally shot down by Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, January 11. Bloomberg -
Police arrive during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was unintentionally shot down by Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, January 11. Bloomberg -
Demonstrators chant while gathering during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was unintentionally shot down by Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, January 11. Bloomberg -
Demonstrators chant while gathering during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was unintentionally shot down by Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, January 11. Bloomberg -
Demonstrators light candles while gathering during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was shot down by Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, January 11. Bloomberg -
Iranian protesters chant slogans in front of the British embassy in the capital Tehran on January 12, 2020 following the British ambassador's arrest for allegedly attending an illegal demonstration. Chanting "Death to Britain", up to 200 protesters rallied outside the mission a day after the brief arrest of British ambassador Rob Macaire at a memorial for those killed when a Ukraine airliner was shot down. AFP -
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) and Mayor of Edmonton Don Iveson hug following Trudeau's speech at a memorial service for the victims of the Ukrainian Airlines flight PS752 crash in Iran at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton, January 12, 2020. AFP -
Iranian demonstrators hold placards bearing the images of military commander Qassem Suleimani and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in front of the British embassy in the capital Tehran on January 12, 2020. AFP
The US chief diplomat said Iran is now at “its weakest stage” as the weight of US sanctions takes heavy toll on the economy and popular opposition protests grow inside Tehran.
“We just want Iran to behave like a normal nation. Just be like Norway,” Mr Pompeo said.
Asked about withdrawing from Iraq, Mr Pompeo said he has had around 50 calls with Iraqi leaders in the last week and a half. He said the US will work with Iraqi leaders to “get to the right place” on the issue.
On the issue of designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, Mr Pompeo said that the Trump administration is still studying whether there is a legal basis to classify entities associated with the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorists. He argued that the issue deserves more “nuance”, that there are different factions within the group and the administration is “trying to figure out how to get it right.”
After publicly defending the killing of Suleimani, Mr Pompeo has ignited controversy with Congress for declining to testify on the issue. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel said on Monday that the US Secretary of State has declined to appear for testimony on Tuesday.
“I’m disappointed and frustrated that Secretary Pompeo will not appear before the committee tomorrow. Each passing day raises new questions about the strike that killed General Suleimani. Was there really an imminent threat?”, Mr Engel said in a statement.
CNN reported on Monday that State Department officials involved in US embassy security were not made aware of imminent threats to four specific US embassies that the American president said would have been targets of Suleimani.
