By Nawal Sayed
CAIRO, Jan. 8 (SEE) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected
to arrive in Jordan Tuesday as his first destination of an eight-day Mideast tour
to talk to regional leaders about ramping up pressure on Iran.
The trip comes amid confusion over
conflicting Trump administration statements about a planned U.S. troop
withdrawal from Syria, according to US media reports.
After finishing his trip to Amman,
Pompeo will head to Egypt and all Gulf nations.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife Susan Pompeo walk to the plane prior to departing from Joint Base Andrews January 7, 2019. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via REUTERS
He told reporters that he plans to
talk to allies about "modalities by which we may continue to apply
pressure" on Iran, branded by Washington a sponsor of terrorism.
In exclusive remarks to SEE, an official at the American
Embassy in Cairo revealed that US Secretary will deliver a historic speech at
the American University in Cairo (AUC) headquarters in New Cairo.
"In this speech, the Secretary will address the Arab
nation and affirm the US's role in the Middle East," the official said.
Pompeo is expected to deliver his remarks in Cairo on or
around Jan. 10, a State Department official told POLITICO Magazine.
The Secretary’s trip to the region centers on two main
themes. First, the United States is not leaving the Middle East.
"Despite reports to the contrary and false narratives
surrounding the Syria decision, we are not going anywhere. The Secretary
will reinforce that commitment to the region and our partners," a US
official stressed on Friday.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks with the press as he flies to the Middle East on January 7, 2019. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via REUTERS
Second, the Iranian regime is the dangerous actor in the
region. There is no greater threat to stability than the Iranian regime.
According to the official, the Secretary will continue his
work on galvanizing our regional partners and allies to counter the regime’s
destabilizing activities.
In Egypt, the
Secretary will stress that Cairo is one of the US's longest-standing, deepest
and broadest partnerships in the region for over four decades now, according to
the official.
"Egypt continues to have a vital role in contributing
to regional security and stability, including through counterterrorism efforts,
supporting the UN-facilitated political process in Libya, Middle East peace,
and of course countering the Iranian regime’s dangerous activities," he
added.
AUC's Headquarters in New Cairo- Archive Photo
The official hailed the economic growth and prosperity under
President El Sisi’s leadership. "Egypt is undertaking many important
initiatives, especially on the economic and energy fronts."
"There are also broader socioeconomic – social issues
such as President El Sisi’s efforts to advance religious tolerance and reform
religious discourse in the region", the official stressed.