The United States says it wants the international community to confront Iran and has urged allies to withdraw from a crucial Iran nuclear deal amid U.S. concerns about the spread of radical Islamic terrorism. The U.S. vice president and the U.S. secretary of state made that clear in separate remarks at a Middle East conference in Poland.
By Stefan J. Bos
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence carried a tough message to European leaders gathering in Poland’s capital Warsaw. He urged America’s European allies to join the United States in withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal which was signed in 2015 after years of difficult negotiations.
Pence also demanded that they stop efforts that in his words are designed to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran. He criticized Britain, France, and Germany for creating a financial mechanism that Washington believes is aimed at “breaking” the U.S. punitive measures against Iran.
Sanctions were eased by the previous Obama administration under the terms of the nuclear deal. But they were re-imposed after President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement last year.
In separate remarks. U.S. Secretary of State said the international community should confront Iran as it is seen by Washington as the world’s most significant state sponsor of terrorism.
Standing next to Pompeo, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that many Middle Eastern nations support more stringent actions against Iran.
The U.S. and Poland are sponsoring the conference. They claim it is promoting peace and security in the Mideast, but critics say it appears to be mainly focused on isolating Iran.
Iran has condemned the gathering as an American anti-Iran “circus.”
Russia refuses to attend while the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, is also skipping the event.
