Pompeo claims there is 'no hope' in U.S. working with Iran's current regime

Misty Severi

December 18, 01:11 AM December 18, 01:14 AM

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued on Saturday that there could be "no hope" for the U.S. in cooperating with the current regime of Iran because of its brutality, including against its own citizens.

Pompeo said it was good that the world was waking up to the cruelty of the Iranian regime, but that there was no point in the U.S. negotiating or working with the Iranian government, as the Biden administration is currently trying to do.

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"The regime reaps the harvest of suffering and death in the Middle East at the expense of its own citizens," Pompeo said at an Iranian policy event in Washington D.C.,. "It is revolutionary in its efforts and in its zeal. It is brutal. It is theocratic. ... [The regime] has demonstrated that its leaders can shoot down a civilian airliner, killing hundreds of civilians, and think nothing of denying it to the world. There can be no hope to moderate or cooperate with the regime led by such men."

The former secretary reflected on his tenure in former President Donald Trump's administration, and the principles he laid out for Iran. Pompeo claimed the former administration understood Iran's cruelty, and denied the regime the resources it needed to harm its citizens if it did not meet the administration's demands.

"Our approach began by making it clear that the Iranian people must be supported in every way, and acknowledged as being held captive by the revolutionary regime," Pompeo said. "We wanted to provide them [Iranians] with every tool possible to increase their power relative to that of the Ayatollah."

The speech comes as the uprisings within Iran enter their fourth month. Protesters are fighting back against the regime for democracy, liberty, a nuclear-free Iran, and above all else: women's rights and liberties. The protests, which are largely led by women, began after the death of Mahsa Amini, who was killed in the custody of the Iranian morality police. Amini was detained for wearing her hijab incorrectly.

Pompeo praised the protesters, saying the world was witnessing true history in the making as citizens attempted to break free of its oppressors — despite the high threat of imprisonment and execution.

"People of all religions and ethnicities remain unified in their opposition to the regime and their prayer for hope for a better future. This is not a movement in disarray," Pompeo said. "We are seeing the true history. The true nation of Iran rebelling against its longtime oppressor. [But] don't forget that this fight has come as a dear cost. Estimates indicate that hundreds of protesters have already been killed. We know there are many many imprisoned, perhaps as many as 30,000 arrested ... We shouldn't expect the [regime] to change at all. That's what these protests are about. A deep recognition that this machine is incapable of changing."

He added that the Biden administration and the world need to consistently and repeatedly condemn Iran's threats to execute protesters who are demonstrating in a united effort against their government.

Pompeo made his remarks while appearing at a bipartisan Iranian policy summit put on by the Organization of Iranian American Communities, which included speeches from retired four-star Gen. Jack Keane, Linda Chavez, a former official during the Ronald Reagan administration, and former U.S. Ambassadors Sam Brownback and Gary Locke. The event also featured a virtual message from Maryam Ravaji, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.