Today, Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto signed a U.S.‑Hungary Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA). The DCA builds on many aspects of the strong U.S.-Hungary defense relationship and will facilitate greater partnerships to address shared threats and global challenges.

The new DCA illustrates the enduring strength of the U.S.-Hungary relationship, Hungary’s commitment to strengthen ties with the United States, and the U.S. commitment to bolster bilateral ties in Central Europe.

For further information, please contact the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at PM-CPA@state.gov, and follow us on Twitter @StateDeptPM.

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In furtherance of the National Security Strategy’s focus on accountability for genocide and mass atrocities, Kelley Currie, Head of the Office of Global Criminal Justice, will travel to Rwanda April 5–7 to attend the Kwibuka25 Commemoration in Kigali. She will then travel to London on April 8–9 for meetings to discuss justice and accountability for atrocity crimes.

For further information, please contact AF-Press@state.gov.

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The text of the following statement on Libya was released by the Governments of France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

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The governments of France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States are deeply concerned by fighting near Gharyan, Libya and urge all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions, which are hindering prospects for UN political mediation. At this sensitive moment in Libya’s transition, military posturing and threats of unilateral action only risk propelling Libya back toward chaos. We strongly believe that there is no military solution to the Libya conflict. Our governments oppose any military action in Libya and will hold accountable any Libyan faction that precipitates further civil conflict.

We stand united behind UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Ghassan Salame as the UN seeks to break Libya’s political deadlock, improve transitional governance, and chart a path toward credible and peaceful elections. All Libyan actors should work constructively with SRSG Salame as the UN finalizes plans for the national conference planned for April 14–16.

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MAXIMUM ECONOMIC PRESSURE

• The U.S. sanctions have cut off Iran’s access to billions of dollars in oil revenue and are driving its exports lower than ever before. Since last May, 1.5 million barrels of Iranian crude have been taken off the market and purchases of Iranian crude will soon be at zero.
• Starting with the re-imposition of our sanctions on November 5, 2018, Iran’s access to revenue from the sale of crude oil was immediately restricted. Overall, our sanctions have denied the regime direct access to as much as $10 billion in oil revenue since May 2018.
• More than 20 countries that were once regular oil customers of Iran have zeroed out their imports. Three jurisdictions that were granted waivers in November are already at zero.
• The Trump Administration has designated over 970 Iranian entities and individuals in more than 26 rounds of sanctions – more than any other Administration in U.S. history.
  • Just last week a vast network of front companies based in Iran, the U.A.E., and Turkey was sanctioned for procuring and transferring more than a billion dollars and euros to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
  • We have designated Evin Prison, where the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps maintain permanent wards to hold political prisoners, and subject prisoners to brutal tactics.
  • In response to ongoing censorship activities by the regime, we have designated the IRGC’s Electronic Warfare and Cyber Defense Organization, Iran’s Supreme Council for Cyberspace and the National Cyberspace Center.
  • We have also sanctioned more than 70 Iran-linked financial institutions and their foreign and domestic subsidiaries. SWIFT has disconnected every sanctioned Iranian bank from its system and even disconnected the Central Bank of Iran.
• More than 100 corporations have exited the Iranian market, taking with them billions of dollars in investment.
• The Iranian economy is in a tailspin because of the regime’s poor policies, its continued commitment to terrorism, and our targeted pressure. The rial has lost two-thirds of its value, reports indicate Iran is in a recession, and inflation has hit a record 40 percent. Iran’s total trade has declined by nearly 25 percent since March 2018.

INCREASING DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT

• Europe has pushed back against Iranian terror activity. After a foiled bomb plot in Paris and a thwarted assassination plan in Denmark last year, the European Union in January sanctioned Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and two of its agents for their roles.
• Countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Albania, and Serbia, have acted on their own to address the threat of Iranian terrorism, whether by recalling Ambassadors, expelling Iranian diplomats, denying landing rights to Mahan Air, or eliminating visa-free travel.
  • Germany recently announced its decision to deny Mahan Air landing rights.
  • Panama issued a Presidential Decree to pull registration and de-flag Iranian vessels following the United States’ exposure of an oil-for-terror network.
  • Albania expelled Iran’s Ambassador to Tirana and another Iranian diplomat for involvement in thwarted terrorist plots.
• The United States, along with the U.K., France, and Germany, continue to hold Iran accountable for defying its international obligations. Our countries expressed strong concern to the UN Secretary General following Iran’s launch of a medium range ballistic missile in December and its attempted satellite launches in January and February. These launches and others defy UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
• The EU Foreign Affairs Council’s conclusions in February underscored its concern regarding Iran’s ballistic missile program, support of terrorism in Europe, human rights conditions in Iran, and the regime’s ongoing role in regional conflicts.

RESTORING DETERRENCE

• We have exposed the lethal aid that Iran is sending to militants in Yemen, Bahrain, and Afghanistan; including ballistic missiles, attack UAVs, and explosive boats. Representatives of over 70 countries toured the Iran Materiel Display, seeing clear and tangible evidence that Iran is sending weapons to its militant partners, which were used to attack international shipping and civilian infrastructure in the Gulf.
• We are continuing to disrupt the Qods Force’s illicit shipments of oil, which benefit terrorist groups like Hizballah as well as the Assad regime. More than 75 tankers involved in illicit shipping schemes have been denied the flags they need to sail. 
• The United States continues to build the partner capacities of several regional nations to defend themselves against the threats posed by Iran.

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The below is attributable to Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino:

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met today with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on the margins of the NATO Foreign Ministerial. They discussed the situation in Syria, including concerns about the Northeast of the country, foreign terrorist fighters, and the humanitarian situation. They also discussed U.S.-EU trade negotiations. Additionally, Secretary Pompeo urged France not to approve a digital services tax, which would negatively impact large U.S. technology firms and the French citizens who use them.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.