The Pentagon said on Friday that it is examining, in a broader fashion, measures to counter Iran after President Trump said he was reviewing the US position on the nuclear deal signed by the Obama administration. In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Adrian Rankine-Galloway said that the review of the global strategy also includes security cooperation activities with allies. "We are identifying new areas in which we will work with allies to exert pressure on the Iranian regime, neutralize its destabilizing influences and limit its aggressive projection, in particular its support for terrorist and militant groups". The declaration, however, did not reveal any indication of the new areas. Last Friday, Trump upset the nuclear deal with Iran of the Obama era and pledged to confront Tehran on other issues, from his ballistic missile tests to his support for groups like Hezbollah. While waiting for congressional decisions to say whether or not Iran is respecting the nuclear agreement, Trump has refused to certify it, sending a clear signal to Tehran.
The Pentagon then listed the points for which Iran was put under scrutiny and observation:
- development and proliferation of ballistic missiles;
- material and financial support for terrorism and extremism;
- support for Syrian President Bashar Assad and the "atrocities against the Syrian people";
- the "inexorable" hostility towards Israel;
- continues to threaten freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf;
- cyberattacks against the United States, Israel and US allies and Gulf partners;
- "serious" human rights abuses;
- detention of aliens, including US citizens, without due process and accusations of opportunity.
Defense Secretary James Mattis and Chief of Staff Joseph Dunford have repeatedly stated that staying in the nuclear agreement with Iran is in the US national interest, provided that there is genuine demonstration of the counterpart's cooperation.
But they also said that the United States must continue to face the other malicious activities of Iran.
There are so many Iranian activities that do not persist in a continuation of relations, considering the eight points listed by the Pentagon.
source The Hill