Pompeo Criticizes U.S. Policy During Iran's 2009 Protests

Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, on Thursday, January 10, delivered a speech at the American University in Cairo outlining the U.S. government's policy and approach towards the Middle East. He dedicated a significant portion of his speech to addressing the issue of countering the expansion of the Islamic Republic of Iran's influence in the region. Pompeo arrived in Cairo after stops in Jordan and Iraq. At the beginning of his speech, he emphasized that 'America is a force for good in the Middle East.' He criticized the foreign policy of former President Barack Obama, stating that his administration had adopted a 'naive and fearful' approach to the upheavals that engulfed the Middle East. According to Pompeo, the 'misunderstandings' of the Obama administration regarding the situation in the Middle East had 'serious consequences.' He stated that the United States under President Donald Trump has been able to restore its traditional role as a 'force for good' in the Middle East in less than two years. Pompeo noted, 'We had previously underestimated the violence and severity of radical Islam,' asserting that the previous U.S. administration had been inactive in these areas. He continued, 'When the people of Iran rose up in 2009,' the U.S. did nothing. This remark refers to the protests following the announcement of the 2009 presidential election results, in which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner. Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, other candidates in the election, rejected the announced results as stemming from 'organized fraud.' During the protests that lasted for months, dozens were killed and thousands were arrested. The Obama administration condemned the crackdown on protesters by the Iranian security and military forces and urged the Iranian government to listen to dissenting voices. The leaders of these protests have been under house arrest since late 2010, a situation that continues, although some unconfirmed reports suggest that some restrictions on them have been lifted. February 11 (Bahman 22) marks the 40th anniversary of the day this ruthless regime came to power. The Trump administration stands with the people of Iran as they seek the freedom and accountability they deserve. Pompeo stated, 'America stands with the people of Iran.' He reiterated that February 11 (Bahman 22) is the day this ruthless regime came to power. The Trump administration stands with the people of Iran because they seek the freedom and accountability they deserve. He noted that when America retreats, chaos ensues. The era when America brought shame upon itself is over. Pompeo emphasized that since the Trump administration took office, the U.S. has been able to rebuild its relationships with Middle Eastern countries and confront the claims of its enemies and the ugly truth of radical Islam. He added, 'President Trump has eliminated the blindness to Iran's actions, and we are working with allies to counter the revolutionary actions of the Iranian regime.' He also called for greater action from various countries against the 'wicked activities' of the Islamic Republic. Pompeo criticized Iran's role in the Middle East, accusing Tehran of expanding its destructive influence in Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon. He emphasized that the U.S. aims to ensure that 'not a single Iranian soldier remains in Syria.' He stated that the Iranian regime has expanded its 'cancerous influence' to Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. Hezbollah has amassed a stockpile of rockets targeting Israel, and Bashar al-Assad has targeted his own people with sarin gas. 'We condemned it, but did nothing else.' He stressed that the U.S. 'will use diplomacy and work with its allies to ensure that not a single Iranian soldier remains in Syria.' The U.S. economic sanctions against the Iranian regime are the strongest sanctions in history, and these sanctions will be intensified as long as the Iranian regime does not change its policies that threaten the U.S. and the international community. The Secretary of State criticized the 'inaction' of the U.S. in past years, promising that the U.S. approach has changed and will no longer be 'fearful.' Pompeo referred to the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, stating that the deal offers 'false promises' and that the sanctions lifted under the agreement should never have been removed. He added that the U.S. economic sanctions against the Iranian regime are the strongest in history, and these sanctions will be intensified as long as the Iranian regime does not change its policies that threaten the U.S. and the international community. He named several Arab countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan, which he claimed have all participated in 'containing the expansionism' of the Islamic Republic. Mike Pompeo stated that efforts to contain Iran do not end in the Middle East and that 'from South Korea to Poland,' all have contributed to the 'global terror campaign.' The Secretary of State emphasized the need to completely eradicate ISIS but stated that U.S. allies must be more active in this regard. According to Mike Pompeo, as long as Tehran does not behave like 'a normal country' and as long as the Islamic Republic of Iran continues its policies, security will not be established in the region. He referred to the 12 conditions he had previously announced, stating that these conditions remain in place. Iranian officials have described compliance with these conditions as 'impossible.' He added that we have helped Iraq reduce Iranian influence, and this process will continue.