US Vice President Mike Pence (R) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the parliament in Jerusalem on January 22, 2018. (AFP Photo)
JERUSALEM, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence addressed the Knesset, Israel's parliament, on Monday, giving a strong pro-Israeli speech, accusing Iran of supporting "terrorist groups on Israel's doorsteps."
He said Trump has already instructed the State Department to "immediately" start to carry out the needed arrangments.
Pence addressed the nuclear deal with Iran in his speech, referring the 2015 deal between Iran and the six world powers as "a disaster."
He reiterated the recently-adopted White House stance that Washington will no longer certify the deal. "Unless the Iran nuclear deal is fixed, President Trump has said the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal immediately," he said.
He accused Iran of supporting "terrorist groups on Israel's doorstep" and "the leading state sponsor of terror." He said that the U.S. will work "with Israel "to confront Iran" and "will never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon."
Turning his remarks to the "the proud and great people of Iran," Pence said their "day of liberation" is coming soon. He said that replacing the current regime would allow "the friendship between our peoples blossom once again."
Pence arrived in the region amidst heightened tensions in the wake of Trump's statement on December 6, which was denounced by the Palestinians and other countries.