Pompeo’s Iran Truth-Telling The President’s tweet distracts from a better speech.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/pompeos-iran-truth-telling-1532388462
Donald Trump’s all caps Twitter warning Sunday night to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani not to “THREATEN” the United States or suffer severe consequences gathered all the media attention on Monday. Which is too bad, because Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech Sunday that deserved more notice for speaking the truth about Iran.
Mr. Pompeo explained at the Reagan Presidential Library how the Iranian regime’s zeal to spread Islamic revolution has led its leaders to direct funds to “terrorists, dictators and proxy militias” rather than to the welfare of ordinary Iranians, and he called out Tehran’s corruption by name and example.
Consider Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli’s “lucrative construction and oil trading contracts” with Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked (IRGC) companies. Or Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, the “Sultan of Sugar,” whose business has generated more than $100 million. Or Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s “own personal, off-the-books hedge fund called the Setad, worth $95 billion,” which is untaxed and serves as a “slush fund for the IRGC.”
“Iran is run by something that resembles the mafia more than a government,” he said.
Mr. Pompeo also offered support to Iran’s protesters, declaring “The United States hears you; the United States supports you; the United States is with you.” His words will reach ordinary Iranians, given that millions use technology to evade censors to hear news from foreign sources. Mr. Pompeo also announced that the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors will soon launch a “24/7 Farsi-language TV channel” for Iranian viewers. Good idea.
The Secretary also called on other nations to join the U.S. “pressure campaign” against Tehran. Mr. Pompeo’s message is aimed especially at Middle Eastern and European allies that would rather profit from business with Iran. The French in particular might mull Mr. Pompeo’s message after an Iran-backed bomb plot on a pro-democracy rally near Paris was recently foiled.
Mr. Pompeo and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are laying out a comprehensive and nuanced case for Mr. Trump’s campaign against Tehran’s misrule that will get Iranian attention far more than blustery tweets.
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