Pompeo says 'ultimate objective' has been to 'deter Iran' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says "our ultimate objective over the past days has been to deter Iran", speaking to reporters after he briefed members of Congress, as President Donald Trump's administration appears set on easing weeks of escalating tensions with Iran. Senator Bernie Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, comments that "a war with Iran would be an absolute disaster."\\n IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES