ADVERTISEMENT

State Department Spox Fact-Checks CNN Anchor on Iran

January 6, 2020

State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus fact-checked a CNN anchor Monday who argued that the United States has no allies in the ongoing confrontation with Iran.

"With all due respect that is just another completely inaccurate observation," Ortagus said after CNN International anchor Becky Anderson said there was no international support for the United States strike that killed Iranian terror leader Qassem Soleimani. "You could look at the E3 statement this morning that was put out by the Germans, the British, and the French."

Ortagus said the statement by leaders of the so-called E3 countries "completely contradicts" anchor Becky Anderson's contention that the United States has isolated itself from its allies.

The E3 joint statement issued by German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Emmanuel Macron, and United Kingdom prime minister Boris Johnson condemned Iran's "recent attacks on coalitions [sic] forces in Iraq." The leaders also said they were "gravely concerned by the negative role Iran has played in the region, including through the IRGC and the Al-Qods force under the command of General Soleimani."

"We specifically call on Iran to refrain from further violent action or proliferation," they said.

Ortagus said the Trump administration has confidence in U.S. allies.

"We are incredibly confident in these public statements. Your audience should know and should go and read the E3 statement put out by the Germans, the French, and the British that contradict what you just said to me. It completely contradicts you," Ortagus said.