Former Vice President Mike Pence sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s emerging agreement with Iran on Tuesday, arguing that the proposed arrangement raises serious concerns and resembles a policy of appeasement toward a longtime adversary.

Appearing on CNN’s “The Source,” Pence said he supported Trump’s past decisions to take military action against Iran’s leadership but expressed deep skepticism about any agreement that would ease pressure on the regime.

Pence said, “Iran has been at war with the United States, and our cherished ally Israel, for 47 years. And I strongly supported, the president’s decision for the first time in modern history to take the fight directly to the mullahs in Tehran last year. And then again, this year. And I do believe the president has earned some latitude in negotiating an end to hostilities. But I have very real concerns. I look like apparently an awful lot of people on this, I just don’t trust the Iranians. I’ve been quite close to those issues from my time in the White House, many briefings in the Situation Room, as well as my years on the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House. So I’ve been the Iranians, particularly with regard to their nuclear ambition, have essentially a legacy of lies.”

While acknowledging that Trump has earned the right to pursue diplomatic efforts after confronting Iran militarily, Pence cautioned that Tehran’s long record of deception should make any agreement subject to intense scrutiny.

He added, “At least what we’re hearing echo out of this, this potential memorandum of understanding, it smacks of appeasement. I mean, it sounds a bit like what I write about in my book that, the progressive left has long embraced, appeasement against our adversaries like Iran. But there are voices on the populist right that would have us pull back from our role as leader in the free world. I don’t think this is the time to pull back. I don’t think this is a moment for appeasement. And I think, I would urge the president to stand firm on the fundamental elements that Iran has to dismantle and abandon its nuclear program, dismantle its ballistic missile program, renounce the support of terrorist organizations, and restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Pence argued that the United States should maintain a hard-line approach toward Iran and insisted that any final agreement must require the regime to permanently end its nuclear ambitions, eliminate its ballistic missile capabilities, stop supporting terrorist groups, and guarantee free passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

{Matzav.com}