Pompeo: The Islamic Republic is not what the people of Iran want

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated on Wednesday, July 25, that the people of Iran are gradually realizing that the 'kleptocratic' government of the Islamic Republic is not the government they desire, which will lead them towards a fundamental decision. Pompeo, who was present at a Foreign Relations Committee meeting to explain U.S. foreign policy, mentioned that Iran is currently facing a significant economic challenge due to its costly support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiites in Iraq, the Syrian government, and its activities in Yemen. He added that this has made the people of Iran understand that this government and its expansionist policies are not what they want. Pompeo continued that the overall economic situation in Iran and the 'kleptocracy' of the Islamic Republic will push the Iranian people towards a crucial decision. On Sunday, July 22, he also compared the Iranian government to a 'mafia' in a gathering of Iranian-Americans, stating that the Islamic Republic has sacrificed economic prosperity, freedoms, and the interests of Iranian citizens for the sake of 'exporting revolution.' On Wednesday, he once again criticized the nuclear deal, the JCPOA, reiterating that, according to President Donald Trump, this agreement was one of the worst deals in history. Pompeo stated that the announcement made by the Obama administration regarding the JCPOA contained false information about Iran's weapons. He accused the previous administration of being aware of the inaccuracies of these statements. The U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA on May 8, and subsequently, the State Department announced that a new round of severe sanctions against Iran would be implemented starting from August 4, with the next phase beginning on November 4. The U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA was met with protests from Iran and other parties to the agreement, but Pompeo insists that the U.S. is not alone in this path. In a Senate session, he emphasized that the United States is part of a coalition, stating that Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and some smaller European countries are also aligned with the U.S. regarding Iran. Pompeo added that the Trump administration intends to focus not only on the nuclear issue but also on Iran's missile program and its harmful behaviors in the world. On August 24, Trump stated that negotiations for a real agreement regarding the denuclearization of Iran are still possible, saying, 'We will see what happens, but we are ready to reach a real agreement. Not what was formed during the previous administration, which was a disaster.'