Mattis: Iran Working to Destabilize Middle East 12/17/2017 6:11:28 PM Defense Secretary James N. Mattis holds an impromptu news conference with Pentagon correspondents, Dec. 15, 2017 By Jim Garamone  WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2017  — “Everywhere you find turmoil [in the Middle East], you find Iran’s hand in it,” Defense Secretary James N. Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon yesterday. During an impromptu news conference, Mattis addressed questions about Iran and U.S. efforts to expose Iran’s malicious behavior. He praised U.S. Ambassador to the  United Nations  Nikki Haley’s Dec. 14 presentation at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling here that highlighted Iran’s illegal arms program.   Haley stood in front of an Iranian missile that Iran’s proxy – the Houthis – fired at Riyadh International Airport, a civilian target in Saudi Arabia. The missile didn’t hit the airport, but if it had, it potentially could have killed hundreds of innoc...