Pompeo says U.S. to hit Iran with ‘strongest sanctions in history’

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday threatened Iran with “the strongest sanctions in history” if Tehran doesn’t change its aggressive actions across the Middle East.

Pompeo outlined a long list of U.S. demands, including having Iran forever abandon its nuclear fuel production program, dismantle its ballistic missiles and end support for terrorist groups and militias in the region.

Pompeo, in his first major foreign policy speech since becoming the top U.S. diplomat, said this new approach by President Donald Trump would ensure “Iran has no possible path to a nuclear weapon, ever.”

Speaking at the conservative Heritage Foundation, he called for a better agreement to constrain Iran’s activities. Pompeo said the U.S. would “apply unprecedented financial pressure” to bring Tehran back to the table.

Trump on May 8 pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear agreement that was negotiated with five other world powers. The deal lifted some sanctions in exchange for Iran limiting its nuclear activities to peaceful purposes.

Pompeo said the U.S. now seeks a treaty with Iran ratified by Congress that would end Tehran’s nuclear enrichment program and provide international inspectors access to any site in the country.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said the new policy is “ridiculous and embarrassing and more like a satire.”

“The United States wants to withdraw from an international multilateral agreement, and then, under other circumstances, it wants to negotiate and reunite,” Qassemi said, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency.