Pompeo warns Iran is threatening regional security, ejects IAEA inspectors

F.P. Report

WASHINGTON DC: Tensions between United States and Iran are spiking as Iran’s parliament passes a law that requires expulsion of International Ato-mic Energy Agency nuclear inspector on Sunday.

While providing details on the matter, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo stated that in December Iran’s parliament passed a law requiring expulsion of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear inspectors unless all sanctions are lifted.

He also added that, “Today a member of the parliamentary leadership repeated that threat: all IAEA watchdog inspectors will be ejected unless sanctions are lifted”.

While recognizing Iran as a regional threat, Pompeo commented that once again the Iranian regime is using its nuclear program to extort the international community and threaten regional security.

The Secretary of State Pompeo said Iran’s threat goes much further than violating the JCPOA. Iran has a legal treaty obligation to allow IAEA inspector access pursuant to Iran’s NPT-required safeguards agreement.  Violating those obligations would thus go beyond Iran’s past actions inconsistent with its JCPOA nuclear commitments, he mentioned.

Pompeo also emphasized that, wvery nation, not only the United States, will attach great importance to Iran’s compliance with these obligations.  Nuclear brinksmanship will not strengthen Iran’s position, but instead lead to further isolation and pressure, he said. Secretary of State also commented that this threat follows on the heels of the Iranian regime announcing it has resumed 20% uranium enrichment at Fordow, the fortified, underground facility Iran originally constructed in secret, further breaching its nuclear pact.

He stressed that the world’s top sponsor of terrorism should not be allowed to enrich uranium at any level.

While concluding, Pompeo said the United States fully supports the IAEA’s continued professional and independent verification and monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s expulsion of international inspectors must be met by universal condemnation, Pompeo said.