Speaking at the event “Supporting Iranian Voices” in California, the US Secretary of State, warned an audience composed mostly of Iranian-Americans that Iran “is run by something that resembles the mafia more than a government”.
He called Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the other ruling leaders in the government “hypocritical holy men”, pointing out that the officials are taking advantage of their positions to amass hundreds of millions of dollars.
He said: “Sometimes it seems the world has become desensitised to the regime’s authoritarianism at home and its campaigns of violence abroad, but the proud Iranian people are not staying silent about their government’s many abuses.”
“And the United States under President Trump will not stay silent either.
“In light of these protests and 40 years of regime tyranny, I have a message for the people of Iran: the United States hears you.
“The United States supports you.
“The United States is with you,” Mr Pompeo said at the Ronald Reagan presidential library and museum.
In Southern California alone, there are an estimated 250,000 Iranian-Americans.
Mr Pompeo also added that in order to reach Iranians, not only in Iran but around the world, the US Government is set to launch a 24/7 Farsi-language channel on TV, radio, digital and social media formats.
He claimed the financial sanctions the US has reimposed since Washington pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal would continue to target the country’s banking and energy sector.
The US Secretary of State announced the goal is to work with US partners to bring the imports of Iranian oil to “zero” by November 4.
On May 9, the US pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement, which aimed to reduce Iran’s nuclear capability, after it criticised the terms of the deal for being too lenient.
Following the withdrawal, there has been an escalation of rhetoric between Tehran and Washington officials, due to concerns Iran may once again start to develop its nuclear arsenal.
On Sunday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned the US that war with Iran would be “the mother of all wars” and told President Trump to not “play with the lion’s tail, because you will regret it eternally.”
The US President shot back at the Iranian President on Twitter on Monday morning saying: “Never, ever, ever threaten the United States Again or you will suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before.
“We are no longer a country that will stand for your demented words of violence and death.”