Secretary of State Mike Pompeo triggered U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran in a move that could break the rogue regime’s back despite opposition from America’s so-called “allies.”
Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated by the Obama-Biden administration, the U.N. Security Council members enjoyed a “snapback” right to re-impose global punishments should Iran fail to hold up its end of the bargain. The world’s primary funder of terrorism never stopped its pursuit of nuclear weapons as it threatened to destroy Israel and Americans everywhere. Pompeo notified the council that Iran was in breach of the agreement, or “significant non-performance” according to the deal’s language.
“The United States took this decisive action because, in addition to Iran’s failure to perform its JCPOA commitments, the Security Council failed to extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, which had been in place for 13 years,” Pompeo stated. “In accordance with our rights, we initiated the snapback process to restore virtually all previously terminated U.N. sanctions, including the arms embargo. The world will be safer as a result.”
It’s no secret that Iran used the billions delivered by Obama and Biden to fund IEDs to wound and kill American soldiers, as well as civilians. The radical regime has also been ramping up its military hardware as the Trump Administration reaches peace accords with Middle Eastern countries. As Iran’s former followers in hate turn to peace, they are also turning their backs on radicalized aggression. Whereas Obama and Biden sought to appease the U.S. enemy with money and opportunity, the Trump Administration has left them toothless.
But, to some extent, the Obama-Biden deal relied upon U.S. allies acting in good faith. It’s become abundantly clear that many members of NATO never intended to honor their financial arrangement to European defense against Russian aggression. Likewise, they are less than proactive in meeting their snapback obligation.
“The United States expects all U.N., member states to fully comply with their obligations to implement these measures,” Pompeo said. “If U.N., member states fail to fulfill their obligations to implement these sanctions, the United States is prepared to use our domestic authorities to impose consequences for those failures and ensure that Iran does not reap the benefits of U.N.-prohibited activity.”
U.N. leadership is already engaged in foot-dragging, and several allies who signed the agreement are trying to sidestep their responsibilities. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has gone on the record stating no action will be taken against Iran until the Security Council clarifies the issue. Russia and China, who profit by selling Iran weapons and products, are rejecting the snapback sanctions. Other members are trying to claim that the deal lost the force of law when the U.S. pulled out over Iran’s non-compliance. However, E.U. countries remained in the deal, and it remains legally binding for U.N. Security Council members to trigger the “snapback” provision.
Iran’s radical leadership has mocked Western countries over their inability to unify. The Trump Administration refuses to stand down and will use every diplomatic and economic tool at its disposal to prevent the regime from enhancing its arsenal.
“The arms embargo will now be re-imposed indefinitely, and other restrictions will return, including the ban on Iran engaging in enrichment and reprocessing-related activities, the prohibition on ballistic missile testing and development, and sanctions on the transfer of nuclear and missile-related technologies to Iran,” U.S. special envoy Elliott Abrams reportedly said.
