Pompeo: ‘Fantasy' to think Iran poses no threat to US
Former Secretary of State Secretary Mike Pompeo dismisses the notion that Iran is not a threat to the U.S., calling it a 'fantasy.'
Israel launched an attack Thursday night, striking Iran's nuclear facilities and killing Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps chief and other high-status commanders. Iran retaliated with a swarm of drones, which Israel's Iron Dome is shooting down.
'Iran has killed hundreds of American troops. It tried to assassinate an ambassador in D.C. It tried to kill President Trump. Its leaders chant death to America. We must never let this terrorist regime get a nuclear weapon,' Pompeo wrote Friday on X.
Through its involvement in the war in Iraq, the Pentagon confirmed the death of 603 US-troops killed by Iranian-backed militias.
In November, Manhattan prosecutors charged Iranian Farhad Shakeri of murder-for-hire in an attempt to assassinate Trump. And in 2020, the Iranian government was accused of plotting an assassination of a diplomat in Washington, D.C., in retaliation for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian military general.
After weeks of meeting, Iran pulled out of negotiations with U.S. officials on Sunday in Oman over their nuclear program. Trump posted on Truth Social, 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iran Empire.'
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill, on both sides of the aisle, have expressed support for Israel and agree that Iran's nuclear program must be terminated.
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Netanyahu for years has threatened to strike Iran, repeatedly saying that all options were 'on the table.' But never before has he pulled the trigger due to opposition by domestic rivals and security chiefs, questions about the feasibility of such a risky operation and the opposition of a string of U.S. presidents. But things have changed over the past two years, and Netanyahu now believes he has a chance to shape the region in his own image. Since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack triggered the ongoing war in Gaza, Israel has systematically degraded a network of Iranian allies across the region. The war in Gaza has decimated the Palestinian militant group Hamas, but at a devastating price for the territory's civilian population. Last year, Israel also inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, severely weakening the group and contributing to the downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad, another key Iranian ally. And during a brief round of fighting with Iran last year, Israel knocked out much of its enemies' air-defense systems. With Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' in tatters and Iran unable to defend itself against Israel's air force, there was little to deter Israel from taking action this week. Trump provided the final piece of the puzzle. After surprising Israel earlier this year with his resumption of nuclear talks with Iran, Trump grew frustrated with the lack of progress in those talks. Notified about the Israeli plans, the U.S. president appears to have put up little resistance, creating a rare window of opportunity for Israel. It is too early to say. The Israeli operation appears to have gotten off to a smooth start – with Israel striking dozens of targets and killing senior Iranian military figures. But it remains unclear how much damage Israel has inflicted on Iran's nuclear program. For now, the divisive and embattled Netanyahu appears to be riding a wave of support at home. Even the political opposition, which tried to topple Netanyahu in a parliamentary vote earlier in the week, has come out in support of the Iran operation. But things could change quickly. After an initial wave of support for Israel's war against Hamas, the country is now deeply divided. With the fighting now over 20 months old, many believe Netanyahu has unnecessarily dragged out the conflict in a self-serving campaign to remain in office. Likewise, public support for the Iranian operation could quickly turn if Iran's missile attacks on Israel cause heavy casualties or continue to disrupt life in Israel for an extended period. A debacle on the battlefield – such as the capture of an Israeli fighter pilot by Iran – could also reverse Netanyahu's fortunes. Netanyahu's hints that he is seeking regime change in Iran — a difficult and complicated task — could further hurt his standing. After a record-setting tenure in office, Netanyahu has a complicated legacy. He is the object of affection and adoration among his supporters who see him as a wily politician and distinguished statesman. But he is intensely disdained by his many detractors, who see him as a divisive and populist cynic. Few on either side would disagree that his legacy has been permanently tarnished by the Oct. 7 attacks, the deadliest day in Israel's history. Netanyahu now sees an opportunity to reshape that legacy once again and go down in history as the man who saved his country from nuclear annihilation, not the prime minister who presided over its darkest moment.
