Weapon Program:
- Military
[...]
QUESTION: Okay. Let’s turn to Iran. The United States is going to be bringing a motion in the UN Security Council this week to extend the arms embargo. It’s widely expected that Russia and China will veto that motion. And then the talk is that you’re looking at triggering the snapback mechanism in the Iran nuclear deal to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, which have been lifted as part of the deal. But it does seem that you’re going to encounter some resistance towards doing that, doesn’t it?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, here’s what’s important: I’m here in the Czech Republic today. Iran poses a real threat to Europe. We’ve seen the kind of campaigns they have conducted here, we’ve seen the risk of assassination plots, we’ve seen prosecutions for that throughout Europe. It makes no sense for any European country to support the Iranians being able to have arms. It doesn’t make any sense.
So we have this expiration. It’s on October 18th. Our previous administration in America signed off on that. We regret that. But the world now needs to unite.
QUESTION: But it’s not uniting, is it?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Iran – well, Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, and so —
QUESTION: Sure, but your European allies see it differently, don’t they?
SECRETARY POMPEO: No, I don’t think they do. I think they recognize it for exactly what it is (inaudible) and I hope that they will vote that way at the United Nations. I hope they will see that the —
QUESTION: You don’t think you’re heading for (inaudible) clash?
SECRETARY POMPEO: — resolution that we’re going to present is simply asking for a rollover of the extension of the arms embargo. It’s that straightforward.
QUESTION: Sure, but —
SECRETARY POMPEO: We’re determined to make sure that happens.
QUESTION: And you’re not expecting a clash with your European partners on this?
SECRETARY POMPEO: We are – we know they too share our concerns about Iran having weapons. They have an easy way to make sure that Iran cannot buy and sell weapons: Vote yes at the UN Security Council and Iran will continue to be prohibited from having those weapons. It’s that straightforward.
QUESTION: Well, not if the Russians and Chinese veto the motion.
SECRETARY POMPEO: We can all go to the Security Council under 2231. The United States, the Brits, the French can all do that and make sure this doesn’t happen. There’s a provision in 2231 that permits it. The United States is determined to make sure that we don’t – I mean, look at the countries closest to it. Look at the Arab countries. They’re all in support of the arms embargo extension. Look at Israel. They’re in support of it. Why?
QUESTION: But if it’s vetoed —
SECRETARY POMPEO: Because they’re very close. Because they’re —
QUESTION: But if it’s vetoed, where does that leave you?
SECRETARY POMPEO: We’re going to make it come back. We have the right to do it under 2231 and we’re going to do it.
[....]
