Transcripts For CSPAN Secretary Of State Pompeo Others Hold

Administration is taking more action to further the same goal. Protecting the American People. The effort to restore virtually sanctions on the republic of iraq iran, pursuant to resolution 2231, the Trump Administration has always been honest about what the Iranian Regime really is, a radical revolutionary and the worlds leading state sponsor of terror and antisemitism. President trump understood that it was an abject failure and it didnt ring iran into the community of nations or blocked their path to a Nuclear Weapon. It was instead an exercise in appeasement, giving billions and paving the way for them to become the arms dealer of choice for terrorist groups and dictators across the world in just five short years. Just imagine what they would do if they were able to freely Purchase Advanced weapons. We have no intention of letting that happen. The president s executive order today gives us a new and powerful tool to enforce the arms embargo and hold those that seek to have u. N. Sanctions accountable. I will be taking the new action under this executive order by sanctioning arms Armed Forces Logistics and Defense Industry organizations and the director. We are also sanctioning the previous president of venezuela, nicolas maduro, for nearly two years corrupt officials have worked with the illegitimate regime there to flout the u. N. Arms embargo. The actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide. No matter who you are, if you violate the arms embargo on iran, you risk sanctions. Im also announcing sanctions on [indiscernible] authorityting u. S. Targets proliferating weapons of mass destruction. They are central to the iranian enrichment operations. We when we launched the campaign of maximum pressure, the critics said it wouldnt work. They were wrong. Sanctions have saved countless muslim, jewish, christian lives, giving access to more than 70 billion that could have otherwise gone to terror. We have done it all while keeping a channel open for humanitarian aid and assistance. We will keep it up until the regime comes to the table to accept a real deal for changing its behavior. The American People should know that we will always put their safety first. I will now turn the podium over to secretary mnuchin. Stephen . Thank you, secretary pompeo. Its a pleasure to be with you here at the state department. The administration will not allow iran to endanger the rest of the world with a fresh supply of Ballistic Missiles and conventional arms. Today the Treasury Department is designating entities that support the iranian ballistic and Nuclear Programs with senior officials overseeing Nuclear Power and Ballistic Missile development. The targets today are affiliated with the Atomic Energy administration of iran, which has operational and regulatory control over the Nuclear Program and bears responsibility for Nuclear Research and development. Three of the deputy directors have been sanctioned today, as well as three entities subordinate to ae li, which are active components of the iranian civil Nuclear Program. Treasury also designated several key producers and suppliers of military grade dual use goods for Ballistic Missile programs. Along with several shareholders and senior officials, they are designated today. I also want to highlight the designation of a particular their Industrial Group that is a primary developer of liquid and liquid developed propulsive missiles, the Research Center being responsible for the assembly,n, final propelling of liquid missiles for space launch vehicles. Furthermore, any Financial Institutions that knowingly facilitate a significant transaction for these individuals and entities could be subject to sanctions. This administration will use every tool at our disposal to ballisticuclear missile and conventional weapons directs, which uses threats to terrorize the rest of the world. Secretary pompeo, i apologize for having to leave, but thank you for including me. Good morning, everyone. Thank you. Last week the president took a historic step towards a peaceful and prosperous middle east with the signing of the Abraham Accords. Today, the United States is taking another important step to protect the American People and deter iranian aggression against our troops, interests, allies, and partners. Over the past two years they have carried out attacks on international shipping, regional infrastructure, and u. S. Partner nation forces including missile strikes by proxy militias against u. S. Aces and personnel interact. Have violated Security Council resolutions for years by proliferating advanced weapons to nonstate nonstate actors such as hezbollah, using them to threaten population centers. This is why the department of defense has taken Decisive Action to safeguard the brave uniform andn in safeguard International Rules and norms when it comes to issues like freedom of commerce and navigation. We stand ready to respond to future aggression and we remain committed to doing our part in the administrations maximum pressure campaign. Todays executive order will further disrupt efforts to proliferate conventional weapons, helping to protect u. S. Forces, allies and partners, and civilian populations until iran complies with international norms. We encourage them to cease these malign activities and act like a normal country. But we are also prepared to respond to iranian aggression. The commanders have the authorities and resources they need to protect troops and prepare for any contingencies and we continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with allies and partners to counter the destabilizing behavior. In doing so, we will protect our people, our interests, and maintain the security of likeminded nations. Thank you. Good morning. Im grateful for the president s commitment to ending the Iranian Nuclear Ballistic Missile and conventional weapons undertakings that threaten and terrorize the rest of the world. Today the u. S. Department of commerce is adding five iranian scientists to the entity list for enabling or assisting their Nuclear Development programs. The individuals added to the list are [indiscernible] are associated with j hl laboratory, the Atomic Energy organization of iran, involved in Nuclear Activities and designated by the United States Security Council, the un Security Council in resolution 1803 on the iranian Nuclear Program. [indiscernible] has pursued sensitive equipment and materials using deceptive practices and few station. Have worked with overseas procurement agents to acquire sensitive Nuclear Related items, including western goods. He also traveled overseas for training and sought information in support of technical questions. Associated with the ae ois subsidiary that implements various projects in the nuclear field. Having worked with overseas iranian agents to procure sensitive items, including those that can be used in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. [indiscernible] is an ae oi employee who has traveled overseas for meetings. These persons are subject to additional licensing requirements for exports, reexports, and in country transfers, per our export administration regulations. These five individuals played a Critical Role in the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Development program and continue to work for the Iranian Regime. Iran must comply with its Nuclear Safeguard applications and immediately cooperate with the International Community. The department of commerce stands beside President Trump and his commitment to preventing iran from ever acquiring a Nuclear Weapon. Under President Trumps leadership im proud to join secretaries pompeo and mnuchin, National Security advisor obrien, and abbasid aircraft in Holding Iran Accountable and in deterring its progress towards obtaining a Nuclear Weapon. Thank you. Good morning. The actions we are announcing today and our work in the Security Council over the last three months have been driven by ah singlepurpose. Peace. Standing up for whats right. As we have in the past, we will stand alone to protect peace and security at all times. We dont need a cheering section to validate our moral compass. We dont find compass comfort based on numbers when the majority has found themselves in an uncomfortable position of underwriting terrorism, chaos, and conflict. Refuse to be members of that club. The United States is a force for good in the world. We led the creation of todays multilateral system and we remain the largest funder. As i have said repeatedly, when it fails, we will not. False hopes on the part of the Security Council members that the jcpoa might contain Nuclear Ambitions dont excuse members from their obligations to reimpose sanctions pursuant to the process outlined in resolution 2231. It is now our expectation that all u. N. Member states will fulfill their legal obligation and reimpose sanctions on iran and as we have demonstrated today, the United States will do everything necessary to ensure that the Islamic Republic of iran, the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism, cannot inflict even greater harm on the world with more deadly weapons. We are doing this for peace. We are doing this for the safety of the American People, the people of the middle east, of europe, and of the world. Thank you. Good morning morning. Thank you, secretaries, ambassadors. The president has taken Decisive Action to restrict access to nuclear technology, Ballistic Missile technology and conventional weapons. The un Security Council has failed in its mission to promote International Peace and security by not extending the arms embargo on iran. Unlike the u. N. , the United States will not allow iran to further endanger the middle east or the world as an importer and exporter of Ballistic Missiles and other advanced conventional weapons systems. It will certainly seek to become a major arms dealer when the u. N. Embargo lapses. Accordingly, the president signed moments ago in the oval office and executive order this morning that will result in severe economic sanctions for those nations, corporations, and individuals who contribute to the supply, sale, or transfer of conventional arms to the Islamic Republic of iran. It will prevent the export of conventional arms to rogue regimes and will ban the export of weapons by arms producing nations to iran where iran would provide them to terrorists and rogue regimes. Simply put, the United States cannot stand idly by while iran destabilizes the region and beyond through the purchase and sale of advanced conventional weapons. The Trump Administration is also imposing new sanctions that export control measures on and individuals connected to the Nuclear Weapons program and the United States has restored previously suspended u. N. Sanctions on iran. When the u. S. Entered into the failed deal, the Obama Administration told the American People that the u. S. Would always have the right to restore u. N. Sanctions on a run, even without the approval of other nations. That provision was key to obtaining the u. S. Approval for the jcpoa. President trump is now exercising our rights to protect america and allies. The Iranian Regime has repeatedly lied about its Nuclear Weapons program, tohive, and denied Access International inspectors. These actions send a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated. The is also sending a message to the International Community that they must turn away from the malign activities of iran. Rather than Waste Resources chasing after nuclear bombs, the Iranian Regime should provide the irani and people with what they want and deserve, a thriving and prosperous iran. A new dawn has arisen in the middle east. The Abraham Accords signed at the white house last week represent a significant step towards peace in the middle east. Iran should use this moment in history, they should forswear terror, hegemony, and the pursuit of Nuclear Weapons and put away old grievances. Iran should join its neighbors, facing a Better Future based on progress, shared interests, and shared goals. The president has made it clear that if iran is willing to choose the path of peace, america will walk beside it. Thank you. We have time for a few questions. Rich hudson . Get the mic behind you. Thank you very much. Mr. Secretary, secretary pompeo, and for anybody else who may , reuters iser reporting a u. S. Official warned that iran could have enough fissile material for a Nuclear Weapon by the end of the year. Do you think that is possible and would that be different had the United States remained in the jcpoa . I dont want to comment on intelligence matters. The jcpoa wassons such an and normas failure was that it created such a simple pathway for iran to create the material they needed for a Nuclear Weapon. Within a matter of months they could turn it on and get after it. This was one of the central failures of the agreement. Your question, where would we be . They would have significantly more wealth. The regime would have even more money to build more centrifuges, more air defense systems, preventing us from having the capacity for getting a Nuclear Weapon. All of the elements of the terror state would be enhanced had we not done what the president had directed. The efforts today are to continue to reduce the risk, they will have the wealth and resources to foment terror throughout the region in the world. Anyone else . Anybody . I will just mention that when this deal was signed, iran was at the breaking point. Instead of keeping sanctions on and getting a great deal, the United States and a number of other countries took the pressure off, they gave iran 100 and 50 billion in sanctions relief. They also give them another 1. 8 billion in settlement for cases. 400 million in swiss francs, that was cash. The idea was that if the money was given, they would use it for the middle class to make iran a prosperous state, a regular stakeholder in the world. Instead they used it for terrorist proxy wars around the middle east. What happened with the reimpose sanctions by the Trump Administration is that iran has again been squeezed and we are seeing that reflected in the has bhalla restricted funds, the who the restricted funds. Restricted breathing space interact. This, these sanctions will further enhance peace in the region by denying funds to the iranians who will use those funds, that money, to build centrifuges, spin centrifuges, and support their aims in the region and globally. What we want is a great deal with iran and what the president has said is that if iran is willing to forswear regional terror in proxy wars and is willing to end its pursuit of a nuclear bomb, iran could be a tremendously prosperous state. It has Tremendous Oil reserves. It could be just a ache, just a, just, just a beacon. Unfortunately, the regime hasnt chosen that route and we are hoping that with th