America is turning up the pressure on Iran and we ask Britain to join us
In recent days, we have seen a fresh wave of protests break out across Iran – from the capital Tehran, to other major cities like Isfahan in central Iran, Mashhad in the north east, and Shiraz in the south. With rising unemployment and rampant inflation, many are struggling to survive. As conditions deteriorate, thousands and thousands of Iranians are braving reprisals and taking to the streets to demonstrate against those responsible: their own government.
Rather than investing in the country and its people, the Iranian regime is squandering its money on proxy wars and malign activities abroad. At the same time, Iran’s elite is lining its own pockets at the people’s expense.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his supporters live lives of luxury as ordinary people struggle to get even food, water and electricity for their families. At one recent demonstration, Iranian protesters were chanting that “the nation is begging, while the master lives like God”. The Iranian people deserve better. They deserve a government that cares more about improving their lives than destroying others. They need a government that pays workers, not terrorists. A government that cracks down on poverty, not peaceful protests.
Donald Trump has made no secret of his deep and long-standing concerns about Iran. It is not only the security and prosperity of the Iranian people that is under threat. The Iranian regime is spending billions of dollars to destabilise the region. It is backing Assad’s atrocities against the Syrian people. It is launching cyber attacks against Western democracies. It is sponsoring Hizbollah terrorists in Lebanon. It is arming militants in Yemen. It has publicly stated its quest to destroy Israel.
The Iranian regime’s behaviour is a threat to the Iranian people and it is a threat to the US and our partners across the globe. The US president will not stand by and allow this to continue. Ninety days ago, he made the historic decision to terminate America’s participation in the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran. The decision was not taken lightly. Since the start of this administration, we have held extensive and frank discussions with the British Government. The UK is our closest ally and we have spent the past year working together and with other allies to try to fix the agreement.
We may not agree on every element, but we have always shared a common assessment of the problem. It is clear that the danger from Iran did not diminish in the wake of the deal. It grew. Far from becoming a more responsible member of the international community, as we had all hoped, Iran grew bolder. As sanctions were lifted and the money flowed back, Iran’s government did not take the opportunity to invest in its people. Instead, it ramped up its military spending and expanded its proxy forces and terrorist networks.
We can have no further illusions about how the Iranian regime is choosing to spend the public’s money. And in light of its destructive choices, it should be all the more concerning that the Iran deal did not even put a permanent block on its ability to develop nuclear weapons.
This deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was comprehensive in name only. It did nothing to end Iranian aggression and everything to enable it. The only sensible course of action was to rip it up and build a lasting agreement on more solid foundations. But to do that we need to show the Iranian regime that we mean business. Last week, America began by bringing back sanctions against Iran and we are determined to make sure they are fully enforced. The President has been explicit: any businesses that put their commercial interests in Iran ahead of the global good will risk serious consequences for their trade with the US.
Only by presenting a united front can we exert the maximum possible pressure on the Iranian regime, and get it to finally change course and put an end to its malign and reckless activities both at home and abroad.
If the regime does make tangible and sustained changes to behave like a normal country, America is prepared to resume full commercial and diplomatic relations. Iran will be free to develop advanced technologies and play a full role in the global economy. Until then, America is turning up the pressure and we want the UK by our side. It is time to move on from the flawed 2015 deal. We are asking global Britain to use its considerable diplomatic power and influence and join us as we lead a concerted global effort towards a genuinely comprehensive agreement. Together, we can help bring about the peace and prosperity in Iran that the whole world wants to see.
The Iranian people deserve better. They deserve a government that cares more about improving their lives than destroying others. They need a government that pays workers, not terrorists