Leave Syria or Be Crushed, USA Tells Iran
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/m...yria-305pjkbs0
The United States has vowed to cripple Iran with the “strongest sanctions in history” unless Tehran agrees to a dozen tough conditions, including the complete abandonment of nuclear fuel enrichment, a withdrawal of all its military forces from Syria and an end to aggression against Israel and Saudi Arabia.
“Sanctions are going back in full effect, and new ones are coming,” Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, warned as he gave the clearest view yet of US policy following President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal two weeks ago. “Iran will never again have
carte blanche to dominate the Middle East. The Iranian regime should know this is just the beginning.”
In a hawkish speech that is likely to exacerbate tensions with European allies, Mr Pompeo said that the US was ready to increase diplomatic, military and economic pressure on Iran. He said: “We will ensure freedom of navigation on the waters in the region. We will work to prevent and counteract any Iranian malign cyber-activity. We will track down Iranian operatives and their Hezbollah proxies operating around the world and crush them.”.
Under the
Iran nuclear deal, which was finalised in 2015, Tehran consented to curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. Today Mr Pompeo dismissed the nuclear pact — which was agreed by Britain, Germany, France, China and Russia — as a gamble that had backfired. “The bet was a bad one for the US, for Europe, and for the world. Iran’s leaders saw it as a starting gun for the march across the Middle East,” he said.
He listed a dozen US demands, including:
● Iran must completely abandon uranium enrichment. At present it is allowed to enrich to 3.67 per net — far below the 90 per net needed for a bomb.
● It must give the International Atomic Energy Agency instant access to inspect military sites.
● It must end its ballistic missile programme.
● It must release all US citizens and “citizens of our partners and allies detained on spurious charges or missing in Iran”.
● Iran must withdraw “all forces under Iranian command from Syria”.
● It must end threatening behaviour against neighbours, including its threats to destroy Israel and firing missiles in Saudi Arabia.
In his first major speech as secretary of state, Mr Pompeo also warned Britain, Germany and France that the Trump administration was looking beyond Europe to build an international coalition to confront Iran. “We understand our re-imposition of sanctions and the coming pressure campaign on the Iranian regime will pose financial and economic difficulties for a number of our friends,” he said. “But you should know that we will hold those doing prohibited business in Iran to account.”........