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A New U.S. Post to Pressure Iran, and a Stark Challenge Ahead A New U.S. Post to Pressure Iran, and a Stark Challenge Ahead
(35 minutes later)
The Trump administration is creating a special envoy post to coordinate the United States’ economic pressure campaign against Iran, the latest in a series of moves to cut off Tehran’s revenue and force it into a new nuclear agreement.The Trump administration is creating a special envoy post to coordinate the United States’ economic pressure campaign against Iran, the latest in a series of moves to cut off Tehran’s revenue and force it into a new nuclear agreement.
The job will be filled by Brian Hook, currently the State Department’s director of policy planning, who was heading the negotiations before Mr. Trump decided to abandon the 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran. The job will be filled by Brian Hook, currently the State Department’s director of policy planning, who was heading the negotiations before President Trump decided to abandon the 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran.
Mr. Hook faces an enormous challenge: Mr. Trump’s moves have been denounced by American allies in Britain, France and Germany who say they are still abiding by the terms of the deal — and are urging Iran to do the same.Mr. Hook faces an enormous challenge: Mr. Trump’s moves have been denounced by American allies in Britain, France and Germany who say they are still abiding by the terms of the deal — and are urging Iran to do the same.
In an interview before his post was to be announced on Thursday, Mr. Hook conceded that the administration’s withdrawal from the accord has strained relations with Europe. But he argued that it also opened new avenues of diplomacy.In an interview before his post was to be announced on Thursday, Mr. Hook conceded that the administration’s withdrawal from the accord has strained relations with Europe. But he argued that it also opened new avenues of diplomacy.
“The Iran nuclear deal — however much they think it is keeping the peace — has prevented nations from taking action against the full range of Iran’s threats to peace and security,” Mr. Hook said.“The Iran nuclear deal — however much they think it is keeping the peace — has prevented nations from taking action against the full range of Iran’s threats to peace and security,” Mr. Hook said.
“Now we can go after the Iranian regime revenues to deny them what they need to support Assad, the Houthis, and Iran’s militias and proxies,” he said, referring to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and rebels in Yemen.“Now we can go after the Iranian regime revenues to deny them what they need to support Assad, the Houthis, and Iran’s militias and proxies,” he said, referring to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and rebels in Yemen.
So far, Mr. Trump’s strategy — a threat to European and Asian firms that if they do business with Iran they will be barred from business in the United States — has had only mixed results. China, for one, said this week that it would not stop buying oil from Iran, as permitted under the 2015 deal.So far, Mr. Trump’s strategy — a threat to European and Asian firms that if they do business with Iran they will be barred from business in the United States — has had only mixed results. China, for one, said this week that it would not stop buying oil from Iran, as permitted under the 2015 deal.
Still, a series of companies that were edging back into Iran have canceled their planned operations, from Boeing to European banks to energy firms that were looking to revive the country’s outmoded oil drilling operations.Still, a series of companies that were edging back into Iran have canceled their planned operations, from Boeing to European banks to energy firms that were looking to revive the country’s outmoded oil drilling operations.
Iran, meanwhile, has not budged. On Monday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, predicted on Twitter that the American strategy will fail. “THERE WILL BE NO WAR, NOR WILL WE NEGOTIATE WITH THE U.S.,” he wrote.Iran, meanwhile, has not budged. On Monday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, predicted on Twitter that the American strategy will fail. “THERE WILL BE NO WAR, NOR WILL WE NEGOTIATE WITH THE U.S.,” he wrote.
The twin questions lurking over the American strategy are whether it does more damage to old alliances than it is worth, and whether increased sanctions could force the kind of broad changes that Washington demands.The twin questions lurking over the American strategy are whether it does more damage to old alliances than it is worth, and whether increased sanctions could force the kind of broad changes that Washington demands.
Mr. Trump has said he is open to a new nuclear accord that fixed what he saw as the shortcomings in the 2015 agreement.Mr. Trump has said he is open to a new nuclear accord that fixed what he saw as the shortcomings in the 2015 agreement.
Officials from Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — all countries that negotiated the accord — have urged that any flaws be fixed in new agreements to preserve the existing one.Officials from Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — all countries that negotiated the accord — have urged that any flaws be fixed in new agreements to preserve the existing one.
Mr. Trump rejected that approach in a move that his previous foreign policy team — including Rex W. Tillerson, the former secretary of state, and H. R. McMaster, the former national security adviser — regarded as a grave mistake.Mr. Trump rejected that approach in a move that his previous foreign policy team — including Rex W. Tillerson, the former secretary of state, and H. R. McMaster, the former national security adviser — regarded as a grave mistake.
In an email to The New York Times to promote Mr. Hook’s new post, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the administration’s approach.In an email to The New York Times to promote Mr. Hook’s new post, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the administration’s approach.
“Iran is a threat to the U.S. and our allies as it fuels terrorism, instability and weapons proliferation in the Middle East, Europe and beyond while the regime commits horrendous crimes against its own people,” Mr. Pompeo said.“Iran is a threat to the U.S. and our allies as it fuels terrorism, instability and weapons proliferation in the Middle East, Europe and beyond while the regime commits horrendous crimes against its own people,” Mr. Pompeo said.
“We have the right strategy and an Iran-focused ‘A-Team’ already here at State,” he said. “We urgently need to accelerate our diplomacy and coordination with partners around the globe.”“We have the right strategy and an Iran-focused ‘A-Team’ already here at State,” he said. “We urgently need to accelerate our diplomacy and coordination with partners around the globe.”
The agreement that Mr. Trump jettisoned put severe limits on Iran’s ability to make nuclear fuel until 2030, but lifted them thereafter. Its scope also was limited merely to Iran’s nuclear activity.The agreement that Mr. Trump jettisoned put severe limits on Iran’s ability to make nuclear fuel until 2030, but lifted them thereafter. Its scope also was limited merely to Iran’s nuclear activity.
France has since proposed a separate accord to limit Iran’s missile testing, which has proceeded despite a United Nations resolution urging it not to conduct those tests. Iran has ignored that mandate.France has since proposed a separate accord to limit Iran’s missile testing, which has proceeded despite a United Nations resolution urging it not to conduct those tests. Iran has ignored that mandate.
Mr. Hook’s appointment reflects something of a reversal at the State Department. Mr. Tillerson had eliminated many “special envoy” posts after concluding that there were far too many, causing organizational chaos.Mr. Hook’s appointment reflects something of a reversal at the State Department. Mr. Tillerson had eliminated many “special envoy” posts after concluding that there were far too many, causing organizational chaos.
Mr. Hook said the Iran problem required an official with powers to reach into many corners of the United States government.Mr. Hook said the Iran problem required an official with powers to reach into many corners of the United States government.
“Iran is about as crosscutting as it gets in foreign policy challenges,” Mr. Hook said, noting its reach into policy concerns about nuclear proliferation, missiles, maritime security, human rights and terrorism.“Iran is about as crosscutting as it gets in foreign policy challenges,” Mr. Hook said, noting its reach into policy concerns about nuclear proliferation, missiles, maritime security, human rights and terrorism.
Mr. Hook and Mr. Pompeo believe that the Arab states and Israel have been enthusiastic about the American exit from the nuclear agreement. But the Europeans have argued that it unnecessarily sets up a confrontation where none is necessary: Reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency confirm that Iran has stayed within the restrictions, and there was no need to blow up an agreement that was working, they say.Mr. Hook and Mr. Pompeo believe that the Arab states and Israel have been enthusiastic about the American exit from the nuclear agreement. But the Europeans have argued that it unnecessarily sets up a confrontation where none is necessary: Reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency confirm that Iran has stayed within the restrictions, and there was no need to blow up an agreement that was working, they say.
The European Union has threatened to punish firms that bend to the American threats and withdraw from Iran. But American officials are betting that Europe will not penalize companies that calculate their business interests with the world’s largest economy vastly outweigh any interests in pursuing business in Iran.The European Union has threatened to punish firms that bend to the American threats and withdraw from Iran. But American officials are betting that Europe will not penalize companies that calculate their business interests with the world’s largest economy vastly outweigh any interests in pursuing business in Iran.