Friday 4 October 2019 - 12:01
Story Code : 360630
US Secretary Pompeo pressures Italy for action on Irans Mahan Air
Pompeo said in a meeting with Italys Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Thursday that he was glad that Italians were considering the ban on Irans second biggest airline.
A transcription of Pompeos remarks during the meeting, provided on the website of the US Department of State, indicated that Pompeo was actually welcoming Italys decision not to renew Mahan Airs flight licenses.
However, there has been no official confirmation suggesting Rome has enacted such a ban. Thursday reports showed that Di Maio had responded to Pompeos remarks on Mahan Air by saying that related authorities in Rome would make an announcement on the issue in the coming days.
Washington has included Mahan Air in its list of sanctions on Iran alleging that the major carrier has been assisting the IRGC, Iran'selite military force which has been blacklisted by the US.
Italy has received rounds of waivers from the US on Iran sanctions. It is not clear how the country will decide on Mahan Air, one of two airlines that operate flights between Iran and Italy, as such a ban could have impactrelations between Tehran and Rome.
Pompeo used the Thursday meeting with his young Italian counterpart to highlight his governments pressure campaign against countries like Iran, China and Venezuela, saying the three were the most problematic for the US.
He told Di Maio that Italy should be cautious about dealing with China as a country that uses its economic power to cultivate political influence and erode sovereignty.
He urged Rome to unite with the US in the "necessary task" of confronting the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
He also welcomed Italys continued alignment with European Union efforts to pressure Russia over a years-long crisis in Ukraine, saying sanctions on Moscow should remain until the situation in Ukraine is back to normal.
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