Pompeo Confident of Achieving a Joint Approach Between the US and Europe to Counter Iran

Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, stated on Tuesday, May 22, that Washington's demands for Iran to change its behavior are not difficult requests. He also expressed confidence that the US can reach a joint diplomatic approach with the European Union regarding Iran. According to Reuters, Pompeo said in a press conference at the US State Department: 'I am confident that the existence of a set of values and interests that overlap will lead us to a unified conclusion that we must respond to the threats posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the world.' On Monday, the Secretary of State outlined 12 demands for a new nuclear agreement with Iran. Pompeo stated that the US would impose 'the toughest sanctions in history' against Iran and that if the Iranian government does not change its behavior, the pressure from sanctions will increase. The 12 demands were presented about two weeks after the US withdrew from the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers. The statements made by the US Secretary of State prompted a reaction from the EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, who stated that Pompeo's remarks were directed at all supporters of the JCPOA. However, Mogherini emphasized that the EU also has concerns regarding Iran's role in the region, terrorism, and human rights violations, and has imposed sanctions in this regard to change Iran's behavior. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reacted to Pompeo's statements by saying that the US government has 'gone back 15 years' and is 'repeating' the words of former President George W. Bush. The Iranian president stressed that 'the world today does not accept that the US decides for the world.' While responding to criticisms regarding the 12 demands, Pompeo stated that the criteria he presented are 'not excessive expectations.' He emphasized that the standards outlined were minimum standards that he expects all countries to adhere to. He stated that they did not set specific laws for Iran's behaviors, simply asking them to act like all normal, non-aggressive countries. Pompeo insisted that it is not a fantasy to ask Iran not to launch missiles towards Riyadh. His reference was to missile launches by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. The US and Saudi Arabia accuse Iran of providing military and missile assistance to the Houthis, which Iran denies. On Tuesday, Pompeo labeled Iran as a threat to countries worldwide, stating that if any other country, such as Iceland or Chad, behaved like Iran, it would not be tolerated. He added that if any other country established a group like Hezbollah in Lebanon, they would not remain silent. Russia and China also consider this a threat. The Hezbollah group, established with Iranian support and oversight in the early 1980s, has been on the US terrorist organizations list since 1997. US officials and Washington's allies, including Saudi Arabia and Israel, have consistently warned about Hezbollah's growing power around the world. Hezbollah militants are among the most significant forces supporting Bashar al-Assad's government in the Syrian civil war.