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Mike Pompeo warned Iran that the United States would hold the country "directly responsible for any harm done to the Americans" by the Tehran army or "by the associated proxy militias". Andrew Harnik / AP Photo
Foreign police
The stormy speech is set in the context of the Trump administration's efforts to increase sanctions against Iran.
The United States withdraw diplomats from the US consulate in Basra, Iraq, following violent incidents near the facility that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed on Iran.
In making this gesture, Pompeo warned Iran that the United States would hold the country "directly responsible for any harm done to the Americans" by the Tehran military or "by the associated pro-militia".
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"The United States will respond promptly and appropriately to such attacks," he added.
The comments are the latest in a series of harsh US warnings against Iran, which, according to the Trump administration, are causing much of the chaos throughout the Middle East. The State Department has been scandalized in recent weeks because of indirect fire near US facilities that it blames on Iran. The state also accused Tehran of provoking further attacks against Americans.
The stormy speech is set in the context of the Trump administration's efforts to increase sanctions against Iran and urge other countries to join the United States in their lobbying campaign against the Islamist-led country.
US diplomats in Basra, located in southern Iraq, will be temporarily relocated, according to the state, even if the place of their sending is unclear. The US embassy in Baghdad will provide consular services to residents of the Basra region, said the State Department.
Iraq has long been one of the highest risk positions for US Foreign Service officers.
In his statement, Pompeo described Iran's threats against US personnel and facilities in Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and militias controlled by Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani.
"There have been indirect shootings by elements of these militias against our Consulate General in Basra and our embassy in Baghdad, including in the last 24 hours," said Pompeo.
Iranian officials have refuse to be behind insecurity in Iraq, instead accusing the United States of trying to foment tensions. Iran has also accused the United States of playing a role in a deadly attack this month during a military parade in Ahvaz, Iran. US officials deny any involvement.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly called Iran a major threat to the world, citing its support for terrorism, its ballistic missile program and its military involvement in other countries, including Iraq.
Trump decided early this year to leave the Iranian nuclear deal of 2015 and re-impose the sanctions that Tehran had been lifted in exchange for limiting its nuclear program under the deal.
