The US Secretary of State will speak with European officials on Iran and other issues today before heading to Russia. Mr Pompeo will meet President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Black Sea resort of Sochi as planned on Tuesday, a State Department official said. The news comes after a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander said the US military presence in the Gulf used to be a serious threat but now represented a target, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA).
Forces sent by the US military to the Middle East include an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers, in a move US officials said was aimed at countering “clear indications” of threats from Iran to American forces in the region.
US President Donald Trump also has stepped up economic pressure on Iran and moved to cut off all its oil exports.
The sanctions are to try to get Tehran to curb its nuclear and missile programs as well as end support for proxies in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.
Trump also urged Iranian leaders to phone him in an attempt to resolve ongoing bilateral tensions.
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He gave his number to the Swiss embassy to pass on but Iran have dismissed the request.
Mr Araghchi told Iranian YLC news outlet: “In order to exit the difficult situation that Trump has created for himself and the US, there is no need for mediation and phone number.
“Washington has to revise its policy and behaviour. If required, they have our number.”
While Mr Pompeo told CNBC the US deployments were in response to intelligence about potential Iranian attacks and aimed both to deter them and to be able to respond if necessary.
Mr Pompeo said: “In the event that Iran decided to come after an American interest – whether that be in Iraq or Afghanistan or Yemen or any place in the Middle East – we are prepared to respond in an appropriate way.
“Our aim is not war.”
European countries have said they wanted to preserve Iran’s nuclear deal and rejected “ultimatums” from Tehran.
But Iran eased curbs on its nuclear program and threatened moves that might breach the 2015 international pact.
Iran’s announcement on Wednesday, related to curbs on its stockpiling of nuclear materials, was in response to US sanctions imposed following Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the accord with Tehran a year ago.