Statement by the US Secretary of State Following Withdrawal from the JCPOA

Mike Pompeo issued a statement shortly after the announcement of the US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers, emphasizing cooperation with US allies to find a "real and long-term solution to the threats posed by Iran." Donald Trump, the President of the United States, officially announced on May 8 that the US would exit the nuclear agreement with Iran and reinstate suspended sanctions against Tehran. Pompeo stated, "As we withdraw from the agreement with Iran, we will work with our allies to find a real, comprehensive, and long-term solution to the threats posed by Iran." The US Secretary of State added that Washington shares common interests with its allies in Europe and elsewhere to "permanently prevent Iran from accessing nuclear weapons." Pompeo noted that US actions and efforts are not solely focused on the issue and "threat" arising from Iran's nuclear program; Washington also aims to curb the "threats" from Iran's missile program and what it describes as Tehran's "terrorist activities" worldwide and the Islamic Republic's "malicious activities" in the Middle East and beyond. The United States considers the Iranian government to be the "number one state sponsor of terrorism." Iran has denied the allegations of supporting terrorism, stating it has no intention of producing nuclear weapons and that its missile program is defensive and not open to negotiation. In his statement on Tuesday, the US Secretary of State said that the international efforts of his government to counter Iran's "threats" would be accompanied by the reinstatement of sanctions and the "diplomatic and economic isolation" of the Iranian regime. Just hours before this statement, Trump, during a speech regarding his administration's exit from the JCPOA, stated that Tehran is "the primary state sponsor of terrorism. It exports dangerous missiles, fuels the fire of conflict across the Middle East, and supports terrorist groups and militias such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Taliban, and Al-Qaeda." The President of the United States claimed that the nuclear agreement with Iran lifted sanctions but did not prevent Iran's activities in Syria, Yemen, and other parts of the world. On the other hand, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, reacted to the US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement by stating that Tehran must receive guarantees from the other parties to the agreement that its interests will be secured for it to continue adhering to the JCPOA. Rouhani stated that Iran has been "faithful to its commitments" according to the International Atomic Energy Agency and that Tehran has "fulfilled all its obligations under the JCPOA; however, today we see who does not respect international commitments." The nuclear agreement between Iran, the Obama administration, France, Britain, China, Russia, Germany, and Tehran was reached in July 2015.