POMPEO: WE MUST RAISE THE COST OF IRAN’S MEDDLING IN THE REGION
Secretary of State confirms US will defend Arabian Gulf militarily Says Tehran’s ongoing presence in Syria ‘will not be tolerated’ Holds talks with Mohammed bin Zayed and UAE’s senior leadership
The United States is working on an international coalition to limit Iran’s “malign activities” in the region.
Speaking to The National, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “A united opposition is very important. It is one of the reasons I am here; we have great partners in the UAE, we have great partners with the Saudis and the Bahrainis. Many countries are pushing back, demonstrating that what we are asking is pretty simple, Iran to become a more normal country”.
On how Iran will be pushed to change its behaviour in the region, Mr Pompeo said “the tools we will use will be varied, they will often be diplomatic. You see the US-led efforts on sanctions, so economic tools”.
Mr Pompeo repeated his country’s commitment to the security of the region, saying “we will be prepared that when Iran does things like launch missiles that come here or go to Riyadh ... to defend the region militarily”.
He singled out the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Quds force, saying: “Qassem Soleimani is causing trouble throughout Iraq and Syria and we need to raise the cost for him – for his organisation and for him personally”.
Mr Pompeo stayed overnight on Monday in Abu Dhabi, where he met Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.
He left yesterday for the Nato Summit. After their meeting, Mr Pompeo tweeted “thanks to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed & FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan for their partnership in deepening strategic, economic & security ties between U.S. & UAE, as well as their strong commitment to countering Iran’s malign activity in the region”.
Iran has expanded its presence in several Arab countries, particularly Syria. The American Secretary of State is engaging countries to change that dynamic, saying: “We have spoken with many parties in Syria, including the Russians, and made very clear, as have the Israelis, that the Iranian presence in Syria is not appropriate and will not be tolerated.”