ADVERTISEMENT

Haley Blasts Kerry for ‘Anti-American’ Meetings With Iranians

September 26, 2018

United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday criticized former Secretary of State John Kerry for his secret meetings with the Iranian regime about the nuclear deal.

The Trump administration pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement in May, saying it was fundamentally flawed and slapping sanctions back on the Iranian regime. This undid one of the Obama administration's signature achievements, and Kerry has responded by engaging in rogue diplomacy with the Iranians to salvage the deal.

"What Secretary Kerry did was not only disrespectful, it was hurtful to America," Haley told Fox News. "When we are sitting there trying to get Iran to come to the table in a way that they understand that the ballistic missile testing has to stop, the support of terrorism has to stop, they have to quit selling arms to the Houthis–to have another American go in and say, ‘Don’t worry about it,' that absolutely is anti-American."

Kerry said he met Iranian Former Minister Javad Zarif in Norway, Munich, and other international forums.

At stake is the cash flow the Iranians have benefitted from thanks to the deal. Leaders of European nations in the deal have stayed in, but U.S. sanctions are pushing against the Iranians’ interests, and Haley said Kerry was anti-American for trying to convince the Iranians that the U.S. will eventually back down.

Haley said Kerry's actions were "hurtful to the American people" and added that if "Secretary Kerry was secretary of state, he would not want anyone doing that."

She slammed European leaders for their attempts to save the deal by getting money to Iran, but she argued it wouldn’t work because businesses are avoiding Iran because of its corruption.

"The European Union has this so wrong, and it’s all because of their ego and their pride," Haley said.

European companies don't want to do business with Iran because they "get who they’re dealing with," Haley said.

Asked about former National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger’s activities overseas, Haley said he operates with openness toward the administration and support for America.

"[Kissinger] never goes out of the country without telling our administration. When he comes back, he tells our administration. He works with us and tells us what he’s doing all the time," she said, noting they didn’t know about Kerry’s meetings with the Iranians.

"Dr. Kissinger, you never have to worry that he’s not on America’s side," she added.