Rep. Mike Pompeo attends his confirmation hearing before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on Jan. 12, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kansas, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to become CIA director, says the Iranians are "professionals at cheating."
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Pompeo addressed the question of whether measures in place as part of the Obama administration's Iran nuclear deal are enough to ensure the Iranians do not violate their end of the agreement.
The congressman responded by calling the Iranians "professionals at cheating," noting that, while the U.S. has "a very sound inspection regime," he still worries that Iran could be keeping something hidden.
While Pompeo has opposed the Iran nuclear deal as a matter of policy, he said Thursday that as CIA director "my role would change" and he would enforce the agreement.
Just two months ago, Pompeo was blasting the Iran deal he is now charged with carrying out as a "disastrous deal with the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism."
According to the Times of Israel, Pompeo also said last year that the deal is "empowering an Iranian regime that is intent on destroying America.”
The nominee promised Thursday to strengthen the United States' ability to ensure Iran stays true to its word: "And so you have my commitment that I will continue to improve and enhance our capacity to understand that and do everything I can to diminish the risk that in fact we are missing something."
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