Iran's leaders blast US 'sham' diplomacy on renewal of sanctions
As Jerusalem throws weight behind US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s calls for 'the strongest sanctions in history' on Iran, President Rouhani says US cannot decide on Tehran's policy, while Foreign Minister Zarif rails against Washington on Twitter, saying it has reverted back to ‘old habits: imprisoned by delusions & failed policies.’
"Who are you to decide for Iran and the world? The world today does not accept America to decide for the world, as countries are independent ... that era is over ... We will continue our path with the support of our nation," ILNA quoted Hassan Rouhani as saying.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that the United States was repeating "the same wrong choices" after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanded sweeping changes in the country's foreign and nuclear policies.
"US diplomacy sham is merely a regression to old habits: imprisoned by delusions & failed policies—dictated by corrupt Special Interests—it repeats the same wrong choices and will thus reap the same ill rewards. Iran, meanwhile, is working with partners for post-US JCPOA solutions," Zarif wrote on his official Twitter account.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also denounced Pompeo's demands as "lies" aimed at diverting attention from Washington's violation of an international nuclear deal, state TV reported.
"Iran rejects the allegations and lies in this so-called new strategy and condemns the US Secretary of State's ... open interference in its internal affairs and the unlawful threats against a United Nations member state," state TV quoted a foreign ministry statement as saying.
US diplomacy sham is merely a regression to old habits: imprisoned by delusions & failed policies—dictated by corrupt Special Interest—it repeats the same wrong choices and will thus reap the same ill rewards. Iran, meanwhile, is working with partners for post-US JCPOA solutions.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) May 21, 2018
Pompeo issued a steep list of demands Monday that he said should be included in a nuclear treaty with Iran to replace the Obama-era deal, threatening "the strongest sanctions in history" if Iran doesn't change course.
Following President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the deal, the United States will ensure "Iran has no possible path to a nuclear weapon, ever," Pompeo said. As he called for a better agreement to constrain Iran's activities, he said the US would "apply unprecedented financial pressure" to bring Tehran back to the table.
"These will end up being the strongest sanctions in history by the time we are complete," Pompeo said at the conservative Heritage Foundation, his first major policy speech since taking over as top diplomat.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Anwar Gargash, however, said on Pompeo was taking the right approach on Iran.
"Uniting (our) efforts is the correct path for Iran to realize the futility of its incursions and expansionism," Gargash wrote on his official Twitter account, several hours after a policy speech on Iran by Pompeo.
A close US ally in the energy-rich Gulf, the UAE, along with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, accuses Iran of backing armed groups across the region in a bid for domination.
"The Pompeo strategy requires wisdom and a change of the Iranian compass," Gargash added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his unwavering support Monday afternoon for Pompeo's stated position, with the Israeli premier calling on other countries to follow Washington’s lead.
“President Trump has taken a firm position which we welcome against Iran. It was echoed by him, and today by the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. Very strong position: No enrichment, tough sanctions and Iran should get out of Syria. We believe this is the right policy," Netanyahu said during the inauguration ceremony for Paraguay’s opening of its embassy in Jerusalem.
The US military said that it will take all necessary steps to confront Iranian behavior in the region and is still assessing whether that could include new actions or doubling down on current ones, the Pentagon said on Monday.
“We are going to take all necessary steps to confront and address Iran’s malign influence in the region,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning told reporters.
“We are assessing if we are going to double down on current actions or implement new actions,” Manning said.
He did not comment on specific actions.
Yael Freidson, Reutersand Associated Press contributed to this report.
