U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday unveiled the next steps in the process following America’s withdrawal from the JCPOA nuclear deal with Iran, in an address on Monday to the Heritage Foundation.
Pompeo said the nuclear deal was “bad for the United States, Europe, the Middle East and indeed for the entire world” and pointed out that Iran has continued to be, while the JCPOA has been in play, “the world’s largest sponsor of terror. It continues to be a sanctuary for Al Qaeda, as it has done since 9/11.”
Following America’s withdrawal from this “bad deal,” he said the United States would impose “the strongest sanctions in history.
“We will apply unprecedented financial pressure on the Iranian regime,” he said. “The leaders in Tehran will have no doubt about our seriousness. Thanks to our colleagues at the Department of Treasury, sanctions are going back into effect and new ones are coming.”
The Islamic Republic will be forced to make a choice, Pompeo said; either to fight to keep its economy alive domestically, “or keep squandering precious wealth in fights abroad. It will not have the resources to do both.”
He vowed to work closely with the Department of Defense and regional allies to deter Iranian aggression. “Iran will never again have carte blanche to dominate the Middle East,” he said.
The Secretary then listed America’s demands:
“1. Iran must declare to the IAEA a full accounting of the prior military dimensions of its nuclear program, and abandon such work permanently and verifiably, in perpetuity.
2. Iran must stop uranium enrichment, never pursue plutonium enrichment, and close its heavy water reactor.
3. Iran must provide the IAEA with full access to all sites throughout the country.
4. Iran must end its proliferation of ballistic missiles, and halt any further launch and development of nuclear-capable missile systems.
5. Iran must release all U.S. citizens, and the citizens of American partners and allies – – each detained on spurious charges.
6. Iran must end support for Middle East terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
7. Iran must respect the sovereignty of the Iraqi government and permit disarming, demobilization and reintegration of Shi’a militias.
8. Iran must end its support for the Houthi militia and work toward a peaceful settlement in Yemen.
9. Iran must withdraw all forces under Iranian command throughout the entirety of Syria.
10. Iran must end support for the Taliban and other terrorists in Afghanistan and the region – and cease harboring senior Al Qaeda leaders.
11. Iran must end the IRG Quds forces’ support for terrorists around the world.
12. Iran must end its threatening behavior against its neighbors, many of whom are U.S. allies. This certainly includes its threats to destroy Israel, and firing missiles into Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. It also includes threats to international shipping and destructive cyber attacks.”
