Pompeo says he wants to build a 'global coalition' against Iran

Before leaving for Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters he is trying to create a "global coalition" against Iran.

Pompeo is also going to visit the United Arab Emirates, and said he will be talking with representatives from both countries "about how to make sure that we are all strategically aligned," with a coalition "not only throughout the Gulf states, but in Asia and in Europe, that understands this challenge as it is prepared to push back against the world's largest state sponsor of terror." He wants the countries to ensure that Iran cannot get "the resources to foment terror, to build out their nuclear weapon system, to build out their missile program."

Tensions are continuing to escalate between Washington and Tehran, with Iran shooting down a U.S. drone last week and President Trump saying he called off a retaliatory military strike against the country. New U.S. sanctions against Iran are expected to be announced on Monday, and Pompeo said he is open to talking to Iranian leaders, telling reporters: "They know precisely how to find us."

Saudi Arabia and Iran are longtime foes, with the Saudis making it known they are worried about Iran's increasing influence in the region. Iran is backing the Houthi rebels in Yemen, while a Saudi-led coalition supports the Yemeni government, and the Saudi government on Sunday said Houthis launched an attack against an airport in the kingdom, killing one and injuring seven. The attack came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the United States' "interventionist military presence" is making the situation between the U.S. and Iran worse, The Associated Press reports.