Pompeo Nomination Threatens Iran Deal, Increases Risk of War

National Iranian American Council issued the following statement regarding the nomination of Mike Pompeo to become Secretary of State:

"Mike Pompeo's nomination for Secretary of State could have profound implications for the fate of the Iran nuclear deal and the prospect of a new war in the Middle East. While serving in Congress, Pompeo's positions on foreign policy were often ideological and tended towards militarism rather than diplomacy. His opposition to the Iran deal - including the political hijinks he engaged in to undermine U.S. negotiators - and his comments suggesting that military strikes would be more effective than diplomacy, raise serious questions about his fitness to serve as America's top diplomat.

"During his confirmation hearings to become CIA Director, Pompeo assured Senators that his opposition to the Iran deal as a Member of Congress would not interfere with his new role that would require 'objective and methodologically sound judgements.' We hope that Pompeo's time as CIA Director has enabled him to take a sober look at the success of the nuclear agreement and the fact that diplomacy successfully rolled back Iran's nuclear program. However, the evidence - including Pompeo's efforts to urge Trump to decertify the Iran deal - suggest the opposite.

"If Pompeo has not moderated his views, it means that one of the most ideological opponents of diplomacy with Iran may soon be in charge of implementing Trump's efforts to exit the nuclear agreement in May. That would only make Trump's demand that Europe join his administration in violating the Iran nuclear deal in order to save it even less appealing. Europe should be preparing for potential counter measures to neutralize the impact of the U.S. abandoning the agreement. Unfortunately, the net effect of Pompeo at State may not just be be the further isolation of America and erosion of our credibility on the world stage, it may result in a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East and a war with Iran."