In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya English, former US Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo stated that Israel “had no choice” but to strike Iran, calling it “the absolute right decision.”
He argued that the world is safer as a result of Israel pushing back against the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, which he describes as the world’s largest state sponsor of terror.
Pompeo believes Israel felt compelled to act given the October 7th attacks and Iran’s continued nuclear enrichment, perceiving the window for a negotiated solution as closed.
He describes the Israeli action as a “broad deep strategic campaign inside the heart of Iran,” anticipating its continuation until Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities are significantly set back.
READ: Florida Rep. Byron Donalds Predicts Shift In Israeli Strategy As Iran Conflict Escalates
Pompeo criticized the Biden administration for easing pressure on Tehran and insisted no global powers would come to Iran’s aid. He views recent talks between the US and Iran as unproductive, with Iran showing no willingness to give up its enrichment capacity and merely stalling for time. While the current Secretary of State stated that the US was not involved, Pompeo suggests that the Trump administration, at the very least, did not instruct Israel not to act, calling this “tacit approval.”
He remains a firm believer that scrapping the JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal) was the correct decision, asserting it was putting Iran on a guaranteed path to a nuclear weapon.
READ :Iran Launches Barrage Of New Attacks On Israel Amid Escalating Conflict
He hopes that military action and diplomacy can occur in parallel, with pressure on Iran creating leverage for a negotiated solution. He also suggests that Iran’s allies might be reconsidering their support and that the country faces the potential collapse of its IRGC leadership.
Pompeo argues that Iran, unlike Israel, is not a law-abiding democracy but a tyranny that sponsors terror, and an Iranian bomb would lead to regional proliferation. While acknowledging concerns about escalation, he notes that past strong actions against Iran did not lead to wider conflicts, and Iran is currently weaker.
Adding to the discourse, Republican Florida Representative Byron Donalds appeared on Newsmax on Friday, offering insights into the escalating conflict. His remarks came after Israel carried out targeted attacks against high-ranking Iranian figures and key nuclear facilities on Thursday, prompting a retaliatory strike from Iran on Friday.
Speaking on “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” Donalds suggested that Israel would employ “more creativity” in its ongoing conflict with Iran. He also highlighted the internal discontent within Iran, asserting that “there are elements on the ground in Iran who do not want the Mullahs running that country anymore.”
READ: Jonathan Turley Rips Democrats For ‘Endorsing Most Extreme Possible Actions’
Donalds pointed to the 2009 Green Revolution, an uprising where Iranian citizens sought to overthrow the ruling regime, as evidence of this internal struggle. He criticized the Obama administration’s handling of the situation, stating, “Barack Obama, when he was president at the time, ignored the Green Revolution, and he went with his big Iran deal that did nothing.”
The Congressman emphasized the distinction between the Iranian regime and its people, noting that the regime continues to oppress its citizens while pursuing nuclear power. Donalds argued that despite the 2009 revolution being “tamped down,” the desire for change persists among the Iranian populace. He reiterated his concern about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating, “Actually, Iran was continuing on their pathway towards a nuclear weapon.
They were continuing to enrich uranium. They were not letting us go in and do inspections.” The Mullahs’ leadership in Iran is known for its strict control over social and political life, suppressing opposition and limiting freedoms. The regime’s priorities, according to Donalds, include funding foreign proxies, sustaining IRGC-linked cryptocurrency schemes, and diverting resources to military projects, leading to crumbling infrastructure and widespread destitution for its citizens.
The conflict intensified Friday when Iran launched a retaliatory attack against Israel, firing dozens of missiles that triggered explosions across multiple cities. While Israeli interceptors successfully neutralized many of the incoming missiles, at least five people were reportedly wounded.
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