United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo on Monday threatened to impose the ‘strongest sanctions in history’ against Iran if it did not accept a sweeping series of US demands, including effectively giving up its nuclear ambitions, curtailing its ballistic missile program and ending its expansionist behaviour.

Weeks after the United States pulled out of an international nuclear deal with Iran, Pompeo spelt out a hard line approach towards the Islamic Republic, potentially setting Washington and Tehran on a confrontation course.

“The sting of sanctions will only grow more painful if the regime does not change course from the unacceptable and unproductive path it has chosen for itself and the people of Iran,” Pompeo said in his first major foreign policy speech since becoming secretary of state.

“These will be the strongest sanctions in history by the time we are done,” he added.

Pompeo took aim at Iran’s policy of expanding its influence in the Middle East through support for proxy armed groups in countries such as Syria and Yemen, warning that the United States would ‘crush’ Iranian operatives and allies if they back Syrian leader, Bashar al Assad.

Iran is unlikely to accede to the US demands as its President, Hassan Rouhani had accused Washington of ‘sham’ democracy.

Pompeo warned that if Iran fully resumed its nuclear programme , Washington would be ready to respond, adding that the Trump administration would hold companies doing prohibited business in Iran to account.

His demand that Tehran should stop uranium enrichment goes even further than the nuclear deal. Iran says its nuclear work has medical uses and will produce energy to meet domestic demand and complement its oil reserves.