Voice of America (VOA) Persian’s Setareh Derakhshesh interviews U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the Trump administration’s new Iran strategy. The interview aired on VOA Persian’s News Hour on May 25, 2018.
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The new U.S. approach toward Iran was outlined in a prior speech by Secretary Pompeo delivered on May 21st, 2018 {Video Available HERE} – A transcript of the Iran policy speech referenced within the interview is AVAILABLE HERE.
It is interesting to watch the Trump Cabinet debate the Obama Cabinet (U.S. media). In this interview between White House National Security Advisor John Bolton and ABC’s Martha Raddatz the central topic is Iran; the detailed conversation is deep weeds therein.
After Bolton presents the administration position and reasoning for exiting the deeply flawed, unsigned and unenforceable Obama Iran “deal” (not treaty), essentially a JCPOA pathway to the land of broken promises, Ambassador Bolton then reaches the part of the discussion where sanctions against European companies come back into play. This is the best part. WATCH:
Massive U.S. economic leverage, and the strategic application therein, is an aspect that drives the left-wing Iranian apologists bananas. A weaponized $20 trillion U.S. economy is the unavoidable atomic sledgehammer at the foundation of the Trump Doctrine. It is far more powerful than a military weapon and drops all nations to their knees in compliance.
Everything is about the economics. E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. Every point of opposition; every forward MAGA policy; every initiative, including freedom; every move toward success; everything is about the economics.
Look at the immediate take-away published by Reuters.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sits down for an interview with the Deep State toll booth operator Chris Wallace. Customary cost of admission, five shillings.
Secretary Pompeo briefly discussed the ISIS terror attack in France yesterday and expands upon the upcoming summit with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un. Secretary Pompeo appears to have a more thorough understanding on the Trump Doctrine of using economics to achieve national security objectives than former Secretary Rex Tillerson.
The duplicitous toll booth operator won’t raise the barricade until Pompeo discusses the view of former CIA Director John Brennan. Pompeo exits the narrative and beats Wallace over the head with MAGA common sense: “Brennan’s remarks are silly“, moving on…
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sits down for an interview with CBS’s Margaret Brennan on Face The Nation today. The primary topics of discussion were the denuclearization talks between President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un, the upcoming summit in Singapore and the Iran nuclear issues.
Secretary Pompeo outlines the U.S. position on DPRK negotiations from the perspective of bold and refreshing common sense. Therein, there’s an interesting part of the conversation where Margaret Brennan asks if full denuclearization is achieved will the U.S. remove sanctions… Secretary Pompeo almost said “DUH”; and reminded Ms. Brennan the purpose of the sanctions is to achieve denuclearization. WATCH:
National Security Advisor John Bolton appears on Fox News with Laura Ingraham to discuss President Trump’s decision to exit the failing Iran deal, and the ongoing talks with North Korea.
President Trump is scheduled to make an announcement about his final determination on the future of the Iran Deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Due to EU allies desire to remain in the sketchy deal with Iran, the most likely announcement is a staged U.S. exit over 90-days prior to the re-imposition of sanctions.
The announcement will be delivered during public remarks in the diplomatic room of the White House. Scheduled Time 2:00pm EST.
UPDATE: Video Added
The Senate voted Thursday to confirm CIA chief Mike Pompeo as President Trump’s next secretary of state. Secretary Pompeo was confirmed on a 57-42 vote. All Republicans present voted to confirm Pompeo. Seven Democrats voted yes.
After the vote, Pompeo was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in the West Conference Room of the Supreme Court:
I am pleased with the Senate’s confirmation of Mike Pompeo to serve as our country’s top diplomat. Having a patriot of Mike’s immense talent, energy, and intellect leading the Department of State will be an incredible asset for our country at this critical time in history. He will always put the interests of America first. He has my trust. He has my support. Today, he has my congratulations on becoming America’s 70th Secretary of State.
CIA Director Mike Pompeo appears on CBS Face the Nation for a conversation with John Dickerson.
Dickerson walks the fine line between maintaining his invitations to the DC cocktail circuit parties, where President Trump must be regarded as a vulgarian to gain admission, and yet he doesn’t want to go full-Tapper-childish and diminish his own credibility.
As such Dickerson sticks mainly to the substantive issues which confront the challenges of foreign policy and geopolitical adversaries: North Korea, Iran and Pakistan. Toward the end of the interview Dickerson questions Pompeo about FISA-702 re-authorization.
Good Interview:
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley delivered strong remarks today during a press briefing surrounding U.S. policy toward Pakistan and Iran.
“The administration is withholding $255 million in assistance to Pakistan. There are clear reasons for this. Pakistan has played a double game for years. They work with us at time, and they also harbor the terrorists that attack our troops in Afghanistan. That game is not acceptable to this administration.”
WATCH:
The people of Iran continue to call for an end to the oppressive regime of the Mullahs and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Directly calling for the removal of Khamenei is a significant shift in the tone of the protests. It is against Iranian law to confront or criticize Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
However, the protesting groups are not backing down. As oppressive regime enforcers and state police confront the freedom groups; the rebels burn the police stations – it ends up being a smart tactic as the soldiers fear the backlash.
Almost nine years since the original “Green movement” reformist protests were crushed by the state, today the U.S. and Israel voice support for for the resurgence of the reformers.
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted: “The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food & for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the “brave Iranians” taking to streets to protest a regime that “wastes tens of billions of dollars spreading hate”. “I wish the Iranian people success in their noble quest for freedom,” he said in a video posted on his Facebook page.