Iranian ballistic missile more dangerous than nuclear deal: Hook

CAIRO – 1 June 2019: Brian Hook, the US Special Representative for Iran and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State, has said the 2015 nuclear deal misguided all parties.

Hook pointed out during a phone conference that the 12 points that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo outlined are what determine the US policy towards Iran.

Last year, Pompeo outlined 12 conditions required of Iran before any "new deal" will be made with the country, in a speech threatening the "strongest sanctions in history".

Among the 12 points listed by Pompeo, Iran must "withdraw all forces under Iranian command from Syria", "stop uranium enrichment and never pursue plutonium reprocessing", "end support for the Taliban" and "cease harboring al-Qaeda.”

As for the nuclear deal, Hook clarified that the deal tricked everyone by making them believe that nuclear enrichment in Iran might represent the biggest Iranian threat, however, only UN resolution no. 2231 mentions the danger of manufacturing or testing Iranian ballistic missiles.

“We are trying to get Iran to respect a number of aspects that we see very reasonable and similar to what we require of any natural state.

In an interview with Egypt Today, Hook said President Donald Trump has no problems receiving a call from the Iranians to negotiate.

“It is up to Iran… and the President said during his visit to Japan that he would like to reach a new deal that is better than previous one that Iran violated,” Pompeo added.