BICOM

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said yesterday, that the US will confront the Iranian regime’s threats through maximum pressure.

Pompeo met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Brussels yesterday to discuss a range of regional issues, but focused on the situation in Lebanon, Syria and Iran. The meeting was arranged at short notice and Netanyahu’s last minute trip surprised commentators in Israel.

Following the meeting, Pompeo said that strong ties with allies like Israel are “critical to our efforts to counter Iran’s destabilising and malign activity throughout the Middle East, and indeed throughout the world”. He reiterated the US’s resolve in confronting all Iranian threats, making reference to Iran’s “non-nuclear threats,” such as its ballistic missile programme, its support for Hezbollah, Shia militias in Syria and its assistance to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked Pompeo for his work in countering Iran and his statements about “Iranian aggression following its recent violation [of UN Security Council Resolution 2231] by shooting ballistic missiles”.

Pompeo also said that “the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem remain subject to negotiations between the parties”. He said that Washington remains “committed to achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace that offers a brighter future for both Israel and the Palestinians”.

Netanyahu said he was originally due to meet the US secretary of state on Wednesday, but it was rescheduled due to changes that were made in light of President George H.W. Bush’s funeral. Netanyahu is reported to have briefed Pompeo about Israel’s military operation on the Lebanon border and the extent of Hezbollah military activity in the area.