Former Defense Secretary James Mattis said Sunday Iran is “continuing” a four-decade long pattern of aggression with its involvement in an attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil production facilities.
In an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” Mattis, who resigned in December 2018, said the situation requires the United States work with its allies.
Iran is “continuing to do what they’ve done for four decades now,” he said of the Sept. 14 attack, which was carried out by Tehran-backed Houthi rebels.
"They want to look like the leader and they're trying to craft a foreign policy that pushes others around,” “he said.
“This is one of those situations where we need our allies, our partners and when you need them, you have to build trust that we have a coherent strategy,” he added.
Mattis also lamented the political divisiveness in the United States, saying compromise has to be encouraged.
"A democracy cannot work without compromise and we're going to have to learn to listen to one another, accept the fact that once in a while the people we disagree with might actually be right,” “he said.
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