Pompeo blames the Europeans | “They haven’t lifted a finger”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused the Europeans of not “lifting a finger” to block the arms trafficking to Iran, refusing to support the reimposition of UN sanctions against Tehran by Washington.

“A lot of things would have happened if the UN Security Council resolutions were not back in force last night,” he told Fox News. Last night, the United States unilaterally declared the reimposition of international sanctions against Iran, which were lifted in 2015 in exchange for Iran’s commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons.

This position was immediately denounced by Russia and the Europeans, parties to the international agreement on control of Tehran’s nuclear program. Mike Pompeo assured that without the US initiative, “weapons, tanks, air defence systems” would have been acquired from Tehran “in a few weeks”. “The Europeans did not follow us in this case,” said Mike Pompeo, assuring that “individually” the Europeans are giving their support to Washington.

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“They know we’re right. But they have not lifted a finger,” he added. The US diplomat used the example of Lebanon to denounce the European stance.

“Everyone wants Lebanon to do better,” he said. “These weapons that Iran wants to sell will end up in the hands of Hezbollah and will make Lebanese life tragically worse,” he added.

He specifically referred to the President of France Emmanuel Macron. “President Macron has taken an initiative and yet the Europeans are not following us to end arms trafficking,” said Mike Pompeo.

The unilateral move by the United States threatens to escalate international tensions, especially at a time when the Trump administration is clearly threatening to impose secondary sanctions so as to punish countries that violate those sanctions.

Source: CNA

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