Secretary Pompeo condemned President Rouhani's 24 November remarks calling Israel a "cancerous tumour", saying that "such statements inflame tensions in the region by seemingly calling for war". Pompeo also criticised anti-U.S. portions of Rouhani's speech as "a dangerous and irresponsible step that will further deepen Iran's isolation". "The Iranian people", Pompeo added, "know better and do not agree with their government... [and] have suffered under this tyranny for far too long".