Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Overnight Defense: House Democrats unveil stopgap spending measure to GOP opposition | Bill includes .6B for new subs | Trump issues Iran sanctions after world shrugs at US action at UN Navalny calls on Russia to return clothes he was wearing when he fell ill MORE said on Thursday that peace in the Middle East is impossible without "confronting Iran."

"You can’t achieve peace and stability in the Middle East without confronting Iran," he said at a summit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a transcript from the State Department. "It’s just not possible."

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He added that the regional power is a "malign influence" in Yemen, Syria and Iraq.

"You can’t get peace in the Middle East without pushing back against Iran," he added.

Pompeo was asked about Iran following a now-deleted tweet from Netanyahu's office that said he was meeting with Arab leaders to discuss "war with Iran.”

"What is important about this meeting, and it is not in secret, because there are many of those – is that this is an open meeting with representatives of leading Arab countries, that are sitting down together with Israel in order to advance the common interest of war with Iran,” the tweet, which came after Netanyahu met Oman's foreign minister, said.

Now deleted tweet from Benjamin Netanyahu’s account boasting about a meeting “to advance the common interest of war with Iran.” pic.twitter.com/6NcsehKfsU — Liam O'Hare (@Liam_O_Hare) February 13, 2019

The tweet is said to have been a mistranslation, however. The account later shared a similar tweet that instead mentioned "combatting Iran."

What is important about this meeting – and it is not in secret, because there are many of those – is that this is an open meeting with representatives of leading Arab countries, that are sitting down together with Israel in order to advance the common interest of combating Iran. — PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 13, 2019

The leaders met at a U.S.-supported conference on Middle Eastern policy in Warsaw, Poland.

President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE last year pulled out of the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran and has reimposed sanctions, increasing tensions between Washington and Tehran.