U.S. Secretary of State: We Support the People of Iran

Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, spoke to a group of Iranian-American attendees at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, discussing the people and government of Iran, corruption in the Islamic Republic, sanctions, human rights, and Washington's policies toward the Islamic Republic and Iranian citizens. During his speech and Q&A session with the program host, Mr. Pompeo criticized the 'corruption' in the Iranian government. He stated that the Islamic Republic intends to export its revolution to other parts of the world, and that this endeavor has come at the expense of economic prosperity, freedoms, and the interests of Iranian citizens. According to Pompeo, the Iranian government resembles a 'mafia' more than a state. He noted that the Islamic Republic's revenue increased after the nuclear agreement, which was used to 'support terrorism.' The U.S. Secretary of State named several senior Iranian officials, including the Supreme Leader and the head of the judiciary, stating that they are more focused on amassing wealth for themselves than serving the citizens, using Iran's wealth to fund the Revolutionary Guard or support Hezbollah and Bashar al-Assad's government. He asserted that the Iranian government has continued its policies against the West and the Iranian people, 'suppressing' them. Pompeo mentioned that Europe is not safe from the Islamic Republic's 'terrorist activities,' referencing the arrest of an Iranian diplomat linked to allegations of a 'plot to attack' a Mujahideen-e Khalq meeting near Paris. The U.S. Secretary of State condemned what he described as the 'suppression' of the Iranian people by the Islamic Republic, stating that his government supports those who demand respect for human rights and the protesters inside Iran. Pompeo emphasized that changes in Iran ultimately lie in the hands of the Iranian people, but the United States supports the voices of freedom-seekers in Iran. He criticized the recent human rights situation in Iran, mentioning the recent arrests of social media users like Instagram users, the issuance of prison sentences and executions for dervishes, and the 'suppression' of religious minorities. The Secretary of State of the Trump administration stressed 'maximum economic pressure' on the Islamic Republic, efforts to reduce or eliminate Iranian oil exports, or sanctions on the central bank. He stated that sanctions would only be lifted if tangible and profound changes in the behavior of the Islamic Republic were observed. Analysts question whether crippling sanctions will lead to the downfall of the Islamic Republic. However, this U.S. official did not rule out 'negotiation' with the Iranian government and expressed hope that Tehran would ultimately change its behavior. Pompeo stated that reconciliation with Tehran is always possible, and President Trump has also said he welcomes such a possibility. He added, 'I have traveled to North Korea. Trump says if North Korea changes its behavior, we will engage with them.' Trump has always emphasized that he is willing to engage with Tehran if there are tangible changes in the Iranian government's behavior. Pompeo mentioned that the U.S. wants to expand its television, radio, and digital programs for Iranian citizens. As expected, one of the questions posed to Pompeo was about the executive order banning visa issuance for Iranians, a decree that has faced criticism, including from opponents of the Islamic Republic. The Trump administration's Secretary of State said this order encompasses Iran because that country's government is unwilling to provide information about its citizens, contrary to U.S. requests. Pompeo stated that the Washington government's priority is to assess the backgrounds of those intending to enter the U.S. Iran and the U.S. have not had diplomatic and political relations for four decades. Pompeo's speech was interrupted once by the chants of a protester, to which the U.S. Secretary of State remarked, 'I wish there was this much freedom of expression in Iran.' Trump administration officials have called for the Islamic Republic to change its behavior. After Donald Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, the U.S. set 12 conditions for reaching a new agreement with Iran, including halting uranium enrichment, shutting down heavy water facilities, stopping the development of ballistic missiles, and ceasing support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Iran, protesting the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, has yet to agree to new negotiations with Washington. Tehran claims it is not seeking to build nuclear weapons and that its missile program is defensive. The Islamic Republic has rejected U.S. allegations of supporting terrorism or interfering in the affairs of regional countries, and it has leveled similar accusations against U.S. allies in West Asia. Iran describes groups like Hezbollah as 'resistance' groups. The day before, Hassan Rouhani accused the U.S. of pursuing goals beyond sanctions with its policy of sanctions against Iran, warning, 'Enemies must understand well that war with Iran is the mother of all wars and peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and we have never feared threats and will respond to threats with threats.' Tehran has not yet reacted to Mr. Pompeo's recent speech. The title of Mr. Pompeo's speech on Sunday night was 'Supporting the Voice of the People of Iran.' This speech was held at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, a state that has traditionally been home to hundreds of thousands of Iranian and Iranian-American citizens over the past decades.