US President Donald Trump’s top adviser has set up a countdown clock against the Iranian regime. Mr Pompeo highlighted the remaining time before the United Nations arms embargo on Iran expires and Qasem Soleimani’s travel ban ends. His hope is to increase pressure on the Iranian regime until “it stops its destabilising behaviour”.
The countdown will finish on October 18, 2020.
In a statement, Mr Pomepo said: “The Islamic regime in Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terror.
“For over 40 years their malign behaviour and support for terrorist proxies has spread uncurbed.
“The implementation of the JCPOA, informally known as the “2015 Iran Nuclear Deal” has placed even more resources and money at the regime’s disposal, furthering the reach and aggression of their malign activities.”
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“Time is running out on international agreements restraining the Iranian regime.”
Mr Pompeo’s warning comes after he said he was willing to go to Iran for talks amid rising tensions.
He also added: “The head of the brutal Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Qasem Soleimani, will be allowed to travel on October 18, 2020.
“Soon after, the Iranian regime will also be free to sell weapons to anyone, including terrorist proxies, and countries like Russia and China will be able to sell the Iranian regime tanks, missiles, and air defence equipment.
“This could start a new arms race in the Middle East and further destabilise the region and the world.”
Trump and Iranian leaders have both publicly said talks were possible, but the prospect for dialogue appear to have receded in recent weeks,
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently said Tehran would not negotiate with Washington under any circumstances.
Asked if he would be willing to go to Tehran, Pompeo said in an interview with Bloomberg TV: “Sure. If that’s the call, I’d happily go there… I would welcome the chance to speak directly to the Iranian people.”