Washington (USA), June 14 (LaPresse) – Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is calling for a hardline stance against Iran and warning the West against the risk of renewed strategic hesitation. In an interview with La Stampa, Pompeo argued that the Tehran regime is the main source of instability in the Middle East and that it is not possible to rely on any new diplomatic agreements. "The Tehran regime has shown its hostile nature by financing terror, attacking neighbouring countries and launching ballistic missiles at strategic allies," the former US top diplomat said, claiming that recent military operations have opened "a unique window of opportunity" to weaken the Iranian apparatus. According to Pompeo, the West faces a clear choice: "There are only two paths: hope for spontaneous de-escalation or act with extreme determination." Hence his call to "finish what has been started", with the aim of deeply reshaping Iran’s power structure so that the people can "free themselves from an oppressive leadership." The former CIA director also expressed strong scepticism about the prospect of a new agreement with Tehran. "Tehran has signed multiple deals with various US presidents, breaking them one after another. There is no logical reason to believe the current regime would respect any new treaty," he said, adding that he is personally targeted by Iranian authorities: "They are still trying to assassinate me." Pompeo also accused Iran’s leadership of fuelling most regional crises: "This leadership must disappear because it fuels 95% of the conflicts in the area," citing support for armed groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. For the former secretary of state, the priority remains "dismantling the remaining military apparatus" and stopping Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.