Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Thursday, Feb. 18, that the United States cannot go back to the Iran nuclear deal, that not only won’t stop Iran, but is also damaging to the United States.
Pompeo made the remarks at the ninth annual Jewish Values International Champion Awards Gala on Feb. 18. The event was organized by the World Values Network, and Pompeo received the International Champion of Human Rights award.
Pompeo also said, “No one will ever again deny that the Islamic Republic is a threat to the United States, Israel and the Arab Gulf states.” His remarks were seen as a response to the current Biden administration’s intention to return to the Iran nuclear deal.
Biden Administration to Return to Iran Nuclear Deal
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday in a video conference with France, Germany and the United Kingdom (E3) that the U.S. is ready to begin negotiations with Iran to try to rebuild the 2015 nuclear deal or a similar agreement.
According to Axios’ report, the U.S. and the E3 stressed the need for Iran to return to full compliance with its commitments under the nuclear deal. Blinken reiterated that the U.S. would do the same if Iran continues to strictly comply with its obligations, but he did not explicitly speak to U.S. commitments.
State Department spokesman Ned Price also said the same day that the Biden administration would “accept an invitation from the EU High Representative to attend a meeting of the P5+1 (5 permanent members + Germany) and Iran and discuss a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program with Iran.
Biden has also said he is prepared to resume the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran if Tehran agrees to do so. And Trump pulled the U.S. out of that nuclear deal in 2018.
In addition, acting U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council on Thursday on behalf of Biden, saying the U.S. “hereby withdraws” three letters from the Trump Administration, the last of which announced on Sept. 19 that the U.S. had imposed new U.N. sanctions on Tehran. And the matter has many people worried.
“The American people can’t afford to go back on those policies.”
Pompeo also stressed in his award speech, “We can’t go back. When President Biden talks about turning back, the American people can’t afford to turn back on those policies.”
He criticized the Obama administration for caving in to the Iranian regime and striking a “crappy deal” that Iran could “pinch Obama on.”
He added: “They signed a deal that presented a pathway that gave (Iran) a clear and unambiguous way to get a nuclear weapon. And when the Iranians realize that this is the deal, they can hold the United States to ransom, and they will continue to inflict damage on the American people.”
“The Iranian regime will continue to exploit Biden’s weaknesses.”
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Texas) warned Thursday night that the Iranian regime will continue to “exploit” Biden’s “weaknesses,” referring to the Iranian-backed Shiite militia’s attack last week on a U.S. base in Erbil, Iraq. The attack.
Cotton tweeted, “Instead of retaliating, what is President Biden doing? prepare to lift sanctions against the regime and beg to restart diplomatic talks. The Iranian regime will continue to exploit the weaknesses of the U.S. president.”
Pompeo said, “Whether they have attacked Americans through proxy forces in Iraq or attacked Americans through Hezbollah in Syria, wherever it is, it is Iran that is responsible and we are going to hold the Iranians accountable.”
A “catastrophic message” to adversaries
Rebeccah Heinrichs, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, also expressed criticism of the Biden administration’s policies. He said, “Iran has taken nuclear deal cheating to a new level, firing rockets at Americans in Erbil a few days ago and then threatening to turn nuclear inspectors away, and what is Biden’s response to that? Absolutely breathtaking.” “This really sends a disastrous message to adversaries around the world.”
In addition, the international community has expressed concern that Iran has increased its production of enriched and metallic uranium by 20 percent, both of which are violations of the 2015 agreement.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), senior leader of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the Biden administration needs to use U.S. sanctions as a means to reach a broader agreement that would limit Iran’s aggressive actions.
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