Brian Hook
Following Mike Pompeo, Brian Hook answered journalists’ questions at the briefing and, in response to a question about the leader of the Islamic Republic’s opposition to negotiating with America, which he has recently raised, said that it is up to Iran’s regime to change its behavior, we have repeatedly announced our willingness to dialogue.
Mr. Hook emphasized that we must first witness Iran’s seriousness in making changes before we can engage in dialogue.
He then responded to one journalist who asked whether Iran must first show seriousness for negotiations or change its behavior, saying that the Secretary of State previously presented 12 conditions that Iran must fulfill to reach a new agreement.
America’s Withdrawal from the JCPOA and Pompeo’s 12 Conditions
Donald Trump, the U.S. President, who has repeatedly stated that Iran violates the 2015 nuclear agreement between world powers and Tehran by advancing its ballistic missile program and continuing its previous policies in the Middle East, signed the formal order of Washington’s withdrawal from the agreement on April 8.
Following Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear agreement three years ago with world powers and Tehran, U.S. sanctions against Iran, which had been lifted after the implementation of the agreement in the same winter, are being reimposed in two phases; the first phase of sanctions was implemented on August 6 and the second phase will be applied in mid-November.
President Trump’s administration has repeatedly emphasized that the goal is to change Iran’s behavior and if it witnesses such change, it is willing to negotiate to reach a better and more correct agreement with Tehran. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo presented 12 conditions to the Islamic Republic in early June for this purpose.
The U.S. President previously warned in a Twitter message that “Anyone who trades with Iran will not trade with the United States,” emphasizing that “I want world peace, and nothing less than that!”
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week, while criticizing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s government, described its behavior as contrary to “world peace” and a promoter of terrorism, and called on the United States’ allies to support Washington’s efforts to counter Iran’s leadership access to financial resources.
Mr. Pompeo previously stated on August 1, among a group of Iranian-Americans at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, that he has a message for the Iranian people, which is that the United States of America hears your voice, the United States supports you and stands with you.
