Reactions to Pompeo’s Ultimatums on Iran
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
US hostility toward Iranian sovereign independence heads toward possible war on the country - neocon extremists in Washington hellbent for regime change by whatever it takes to achieve their aim.
Last October, Trump “ordered a complete strategic review of our policy toward” Iran, reciting a litany of Big Lies about the country - calling its government a “fanatical regime, a “dictatorship,” a sponsor of “terrorism…continuing aggression in the Middle East and all around the world.”
All of the above are bald-faced lies, reflecting how America is run, not Iran, the way Washington demonizes nations, attacking them politically, economically and at times militarily.
Trump said he’d work with US allies against Iran, impose (illegal) sanctions, address its (legitimate) missile development program, counter its military activities in Syria (aiding Damascus combat US-supported terrorists), deny the country a path to nuclear weapons it abhors, never sought, and wants eliminated everywhere.
Withdrawing from the JCPOA, he disgracefully called the Security Council unanimously approved international agreement “one of the worst deals ever” - a bald-faced lie.
Pompeo’s Monday address followed the same anti-Iran script, taking things a step further by listing demands on the country designed to be denounced and rejected, not accepted.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani blasted his ultimatums, telling Pompeo: “Who are you to decide for Iran and the world?”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry called his demands cheap, baseless, insulting and interventionist, a cowardly attempt to turn world public opinion against the Islamic Republic, adding:
His remarks “showed radical and hawkish currents in the US, neither know(ing) history, nor…learn(ing) lessons from it.”
The Trump regime “reneged on all its political, legal and international obligations, is not in a position to set conditions for a major country like Iran, which has made good on its commitments.”
The US “colonialist regime supports terrorism, especially state terrorism. Terror groups such Al-Qaeda, ISIS, the MKO, Jundallah and other Takfiriterrorist groups…survive with American taxpayers’ money and with the support of incompetent systems in the Middle East…”
US media were surprisingly critical of Pompeo’s address. The NYT called it “belligerent…wishful thinking that will make regional tensions worse, if not lead to outright conflict,” adding:
His “real goal seems to be (an attempt to) force (Iran) to resume the nuclear program, thus giving the United States and Israel an excuse for military action.”
The neocon/CIA house organ was critical of the agency’s former director, saying his message to Iran was “(d)o what we want, or else!”
His demands are “completely divorced from reality.” His message to the Iranian people was “(t)opple your (government) or we’re going to do it for you” - an agenda not going down well in Brussels and most everywhere else, perhaps supported only by Israel, its US lobby, and despotic anti-Iran regional regimes.
CNN called his address “complete fantasy.” EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, speaking for Brussels, criticized Pompeo’s address, saying:
His “speech has not demonstrated how walking away from the JCPOA has made or will make the region safer from the threat of nuclear proliferation or how it puts us in a better position to influence Iran’s conduct in areas outside the scope of JCPOA. There is no alternative to the JCPOA.”
National Iranian American Council vice president Jamal Abdi blasted Pompeo’s address, saying:
“The Trump Administration is setting the stage for…war (on) Iran…Pompeo offering a smokescreen of diplomacy to distract from the administration’s pursuit of Iraq-style regime change.”
He “and Trump are attempting to co-opt the legitimate concerns of ordinary Iranians in order to advance the undemocratic and illiberal interests of” Saudi crown prince bin Salman and Netanyahu.
Pompeo’s unacceptable demands and crude threats may backfire, isolating Washington more than already on Iran - except for a handful of allies hostile to the country.
Clearly Washington’s goal is regime change, another color revolution attempt likely coming - maybe war if it fails.
If Trump goes this way, he’ll jeopardize the entire region. Iran can strike Israel and US regional targets.
It can block or obstruct the key Strait of Hormuz maritime shipping route for Middle East oil producers - one of the world’s most strategically important choke points.
The JCPOA was a key measure for reducing Middle East tensions. Trump’s agenda heightened them greatly.
He risks conflict with a nation powerful enough to strike back hard if attacked, threatening possible global war if things go this far.
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