IRAN/MIKE POMPEO/NORTH KOREA/SANCTIONS/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a tour of Southeast Asia on Thursday [8-2-18] with a plan to urge allied countries to maintain sanctions pressure against North Korea despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. North Korea and Iran are both expected to attend a summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, in Singapore. Turkey’s top diplomat will also be at the gathering and is expected to meet Mr. Pompeo amid a growing U.S.-Turkish dispute over a detained U.S. pastor. The Trump administration on Wednesday [8-1-18] sanctioned two top Turkish officials over the detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson, accused by Turkey of involvement in a 2016 coup attempt. The U.S. is demanding his release. A senior State Department official briefing reporters aboard Mr. Pompeo’s plane Thursday skirted a question about whether the secretary planned to speak with North Korean officials at the summit…It was also unclear if Mr. Pompeo would speak with Iran’s foreign minister. U.S. officials have said no engagements with Tehran are scheduled, but haven’t ruled out the possibility of a meeting. President Trump earlier this week expressed a willingness to meet with Iran’s president without preconditions, but drew a downbeat response from Iran.”
–Jessica Donati, “Pompeo, in Asia, to Hold Talks on Turkey, North Korea, Iran,” The Wall Street Journal, August 2, 2018 4:46 pm