Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times /  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  briefs reporters at Department of State headquarters in Washington D.C. Jan. 7, 2020

By Gary Raynaldo       DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

WASHINGTON  –  DEPARTMENT OF STATE –  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held a press conference Tuesday amid escalating tensions with Iran during which he said  any response to Tehran if it retaliates for the killing of its top  military commander would comply with all international laws. The president ordered a drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, in Baghdad last week. Iran has threatened to retaliate for the strike, leading President Trump to warn the U.S. would target 52 sites in Iran, including some important to “the Iranian culture,” if it does.  President Trump suggested that Iran’s cultural sites could be targeted if it retaliates against American assets. 

 “I said on Sunday – I will reiterate it again – every target that’s being reviewed, every effort that’s being made will always be conducted inside the international laws of war. “

-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters  at State Department headquarters Tuesday.

When pressed if Iranian cultural  sites would be ruled out as potential U.S. targets,  Pompeo hedged, claiming the president “didn’t say he’d go after a cultural site.”   Pompeo then pointing the finger at Iran for any desecration of its cultural sites.  “Let me tell you who’s done damage to the Persian culture.  It’s not the United States of America; it’s the ayatollah.  If you want to look at who has denied religious freedom, if you want to know who has denied – the Persian culture is rich and steeped in history and intellect and they’ve denied the capacity for that culture to continue.   The real risk to Persian culture does not come from the United States of America,” Pompeo said.

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times  / U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  before briefing  reporters at Department of State headquarters in Washington D.C. Jan. 7, 2020

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times / U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo briefs  reporters at Department of State headquarters in Washington D.C. Jan. 7, 2020

Secretary of State Pompeo also defended the “legality” of the deadly strike against Iran’s top military commander, despite not informing Congress.    “I can say, as a pattern of practice, I have never seen this administration engage in an activity of this nature without a thorough and complete legal review of what the bases would be if the President were to make a series of decisions.”