Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Iran, August 22, 2018 – The New York-based llaf News Agency wrote a recent piece on the new U.S. policy vis-à-vis the Iranian regime:
The Trump administration is taking new measures following the launch of the “Iran Action Group” aimed at placing pressure on Tehran to respect U.S. economic sanctions and possibly imposing sanctions against other countries that do not abide by Washington’s measures.
The Iran Action Group will be directed by Brian Hook, previously appointed as the U.S. State Department Director of Policy Planning and Senior Policy Advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Hook supervised Washington’s talks with their Europeans partners on Tehran.
Unifying efforts
Dr. Walid Phares, former foreign policy advisor to the U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, expressed his thoughts about a possible face-off between the U.S. and the Iranian regime.
“Establishing the ‘Iran Action Group’ is a major step forward. Efforts against the Iranian regime and America’s ability between the State and Defense departments, the National Security Council, Congressional committees and embassies were all scattered. They now become unified. This is exactly why the U.S. government needed to establish a joint operations room because the Iran dossier, if not the most significant, is one of the crucial crises facing the U.S.
Iran in priority
Following the U.S. departure from the Iran deal and the Iranian regime’s expansion across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, parallel to the U.S.-Europe disputes over complying with sanctions, and considering Iran’s continuous threats against the U.S. and its allies in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, the Iranian regime is now becoming the top priority of policy in the government, Congress and the State Department.
The Iran crisis is by far larger and more imperative than the North Korea crisis.
Hook’s plan remains unknown, Phares explains, yet he is considered one of the highly professional diplomats in the State Dept. and was chosen for this new role based on such credentials.
It must also be taken into consideration that the government could have specified an individual from outside the State Department. This decision has now placed wide authority in the hands of a very experienced diplomat.
Iranian opposition
There are many questions about the U.S. administration’s campaign against the Iranian regime and neglecting the role of a political opposition.
Despite Mike Pompeo taking part in an event attended by a number of Iranian-Americans of California and delivering a fiery speech against the Iranian regime, the U.S. administration has not entered a partnership with the Iranian opposition, Phares said.
Furthermore, those close to Trump have excellent relations with the Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). There are also relations among U.S. officials and other groups. There are also relations with student groups and independent youths, he adds.
Positive measures
The change we have witnessed to this day are important in and of itself, and in comparing Trump’s policies with those of Obama we realize the huge shift, Phares explains. The former U.S. president was heading towards full engagement with the Iranian regime. Therefore, going from the agreement to an exit of the Iran nuclear deal is a major development indeed, he adds.
