McMaster: US Allies Will Support Potential Sanctions Against Iran

General Herbert McMaster, National Security Advisor to Donald Trump, criticized the Obama administration's approach to Iran, stating that the policies of the previous administration "unintentionally" empowered Iran throughout the Middle East and beyond. In an exclusive interview with Fox News' "Sunday" program, McMaster expressed confidence that if the US decides to impose new sanctions targeting "Iran's malign behaviors," it will have sufficient support from its allies. During the interview, host Chris Wallace referenced the recent position of the US State Department, which confirmed Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal while emphasizing a tougher US policy regarding other Iranian behaviors, including support for terrorism. Wallace then asked whether, given that US allies are eager to engage with Iran after lifting most of their sanctions, they would accompany the US in its new policy towards Iran. In response, McMaster emphasized that what needs to be done is to "lift the veil on Iran's behaviors." He described Iran as a government that supports a murderous regime in Syria that commits mass killings against its own people and seeks to "implement the Hezbollah model in the Middle East." He elaborated that "Iran desires weak governments in the region that are dependent on its support, allowing it to expand militia groups and other illegal armed groups from outside these countries." McMaster assured Wallace that US allies would accompany Washington if new sanctions targeting "Iran's malign behaviors" were adopted. Criticizing the Obama administration's approach to Iran, McMaster stated, "In the past eight years, US policies have unintentionally empowered Iran throughout the Middle East and beyond." He added, "We now see the impact of these policies in the form of a humanitarian-political disaster in the Middle East, and these policies have contributed to this situation; what is now important is to change policies to confront Iran." McMaster then emphasized that currently, "the fact that Trump-led America has very strong relations, for example, with the Arab world provides us with a tremendous opportunity to confront Iran's malign behaviors in the region and beyond." Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has repeatedly criticized the Iran nuclear deal during his campaign and after taking office, describing it as the worst deal possible. Since Trump's rise to power, senior US officials have repeatedly warned about Iran's destabilizing behaviors in the region, and recently, the US Secretary of State announced that Washington is conducting a comprehensive review of its policies towards Iran, as "an unchecked Iran" has the potential to follow North Korea's path. The evidence that US officials cite regarding Iran's destabilizing and malign behaviors includes "Iran's role in escalating conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon," and "support for attacks on Israel," with the US recognizing Iran as "the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism." Regarding the nuclear agreement, the US President recently stated that in his view, Iran is not adhering to the spirit of the JCPOA, while Iran, through its Foreign Minister, has accused the US of not adhering to the spirit and text of the JCPOA, although Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that the US is still committed to its obligations under the JCPOA.