Pompeo: The United States Will Impose the Harshest Sanctions in History Against Iran

Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, says Washington will impose "the harshest sanctions in history against Iran and if the Iranian government does not change its behavior, the pressure of sanctions will increase." Mr. Pompeo made these remarks on Monday, May 20, during a speech at the Heritage Foundation, where he outlined 12 conditions for reaching a new nuclear agreement with Iran. His speech comes about two weeks after Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the nuclear deal between Iran and six global powers. Mr. Pompeo described the JCPOA as a "losing deal" with "significant negative consequences." He added that since the signing of the nuclear agreement in July 2015, Iran has expanded its influence and activities in the Middle East. He stated that the sanctions would impose "unprecedented financial pressure" on Iran. The U.S. Secretary of State characterized Iran as the world's largest supporter of terrorism, adding: "Iran will not have enough money for both endeavors." Mr. Pompeo said that under the pressure of these sanctions, Iran would face "great challenges in keeping its economy alive" and would be forced to choose between maintaining its economy or supporting terrorists and insurgent groups in countries like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, which he described as "wasting precious wealth on foreign wars." He added: "Iran will not have enough money for both tasks." The U.S. Secretary of State stated that Iran has used the cash it received after the lifting of sanctions as "a new treasure" to support those groups. Mr. Pompeo continued: "We will pursue and crush Iran's agents and Hezbollah around the world." His remarks are part of the diplomatic "roadmap" presented by the Trump administration regarding Iran. A senior U.S. official previously stated that the goal of this roadmap is to pressure Tehran to return to the negotiating table. In another part of his speech, the Secretary of State said: "As we saw in the hijab protests, it seems that the regime's brutal agents, especially against Iranian women who demand their rights, are terrified. Iranian women, as human beings with inherent dignity and undeniable rights, deserve the same freedoms that Iranian men have." He added: "America's hope is that our efforts toward peace and security for the oppressed people of Iran will bear fruit. We wish to see the happiness and prosperity of the Iranian people, as decades ago, and better than ever. Today, the United States is proud to choose a new path toward that goal." Mr. Pompeo emphasized that if there is a "fundamental change" in Iran's behavior, the United States is willing to lift the sanctions. He did not specify the exact timing for imposing the sanctions. Among the U.S. conditions, he stated that Iran must "stop uranium enrichment." According to the JCPOA, Iran can continue low-enriched uranium enrichment within the imposed limits. The U.S. Secretary of State added that Iran must allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors "to inspect all facilities across the country without any restrictions." Apparently, his reference is to several military bases that are not subject to inspection under the JCPOA and specific conditions. Mr. Pompeo also stated that Iran must disclose all its previous nuclear weapons program plans and actions. Thus, he opened a new subject that the International Atomic Energy Agency had declared closed. Another condition he announced was to cease support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen, "withdraw all its forces" from Syria, stop support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, and halt the "threat to Israel." The U.S. Secretary of State said: "At the same time, Iran must release all American citizens who are missing in Iran" or "who have been imprisoned for fabricated crimes." He also outlined potential concessions that Washington could offer Iran. Mr. Pompeo stated that under a new agreement with Iran, the U.S. is willing to lift all sanctions, restore diplomatic and economic relations with Iran, and even assist in revitalizing its economy. The 12 U.S. demands from Iran announced in Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's speech are: 1. Iran must disclose all dimensions and details of its former military-nuclear program to the International Atomic Energy Agency and permanently and verifiably cease any work on this program. 2. Iran must stop uranium enrichment and never pursue plutonium reprocessing. Alongside this, heavy water facilities must also be shut down. 3. Iran must allow IAEA inspectors access to all bases across the country. 4. Iran must end its ballistic missile program and any testing and development of missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. 5. Iran must release all American citizens and citizens of our allies who have been arrested on false charges or are missing in Iran. 6. Iran must end its support for terrorist groups in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. 7. Iran must respect the sovereignty of the Iraqi government and allow disarmament, prevention of organization, and re-recruitment of Shiite militias in Iraq to proceed. 8. Iran must end its military support for the Houthi rebels and work towards a political peace agreement in Yemen. 9. Iran must withdraw all military forces under its command from Syria. 10. Iran must end its support for the Taliban and other terrorists in Afghanistan and the region and cease harboring al-Qaeda. 11. Iran must end the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' support for terrorists and its militia allies. 12. Iran must refrain from threatening behaviors against its neighbors—many of whom are U.S. allies—including ceasing threats to destroy Israel and stopping missile launches into the territory of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This threat also includes international shipping and destructive cyber operations. He added: "America's hope is that our efforts for peace and security for the long-suffering people of Iran will yield results." The U.S. Secretary of State defended Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the JCPOA, stating that this agreement "failed to guarantee the safety of the American people." He outlined the weaknesses of the nuclear agreement with Iran, pointing to the "timing of the agreement's end," stating that as soon as this period ends, "they can quickly start bomb production," which would trigger a nuclear arms race. Pompeo stated that Iranian officials negotiated this agreement with "malice" because Iran has lied for years about having a nuclear weapons program. He also criticized the nuclear agreement for not addressing Iran's missile program. Pompeo emphasized that the cash blocked abroad, which Iran received after the signing of the JCPOA, enabled the country to "arm Hezbollah to the teeth" and added that this group "has targeting Israel in its plans." The U.S. Secretary of State stated that since the nuclear agreement, Iran has been able to "strengthen the murderous regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and support Shiite forces in Iraq." He also stated that Iran has supported the Houthi uprising in Yemen and that the Quds Force "carries out covert assassinations in the heart of Europe." Mr. Pompeo criticized Iran for detaining and imprisoning several American citizens but added that the Trump administration "is working hard to bring all Americans who have been illegally imprisoned in Iran back home." He stated that the U.S. "will continue to work with its allies to block Iran's terrorism financing networks" and ensure that "Iran can never achieve nuclear weapons, neither today nor in the future." This U.S. official stated that if Iran decides to resume its nuclear activities that have been halted under the JCPOA, "it will face problems it has never experienced before." Iranian officials, including Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization, have stated that if they do not reach an agreement with the Europeans regarding guarantees about the JCPOA, Iran has various options, including 20% enrichment on the agenda. According to the July 2015 agreement, from which the U.S. withdrew two weeks ago, Iran is only allowed to enrich uranium to below four percent. Donald Trump has long stated that the nuclear agreement between Iran and six global powers, including the U.S., is insufficient. Pompeo stated: "In the strategy we are announcing today, we seek the support of our most important allies and partner countries in the region and around the world. I mean not just our friends in Europe." The European Union is trying to convince Iran to remain committed to the agreement even without U.S. participation. The U.S. Secretary of State also warned European companies that have contracted with Iran in recent years that if they violate U.S. sanctions, they will be "held accountable." The U.S. Treasury Department has given European companies 90 days to cease their activities in Iran before the sanctions take effect. European leaders are currently seeking and implementing solutions to avoid U.S. sanctions against Iran and mitigate the impact of sanctions on European companies' activities in Iran. The European Commission has proposed that member countries of the Union directly pay the Iranian central bank for imported oil to circumvent U.S. sanctions. Mr. Pompeo recently expressed hope that the United States could reach an agreement with its Western allies in the coming days and weeks that would protect not only the world from Iran's nuclear program but also from—what he termed—Tehran's "bad behavior."