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Brian Hook, a former senior official in Donald Trump\u2019s administration and likely a key figure in his new administration, <\/span>spoke on Thursday<\/span><\/a>, November 7, to CNN about the U.S.’s approach to Iran under Trump\u2019s renewed leadership. Hook described the Iranian regime as the \u201cmain source of instability in the Middle East\u201d and outlined a strategy to diplomatically and economically isolate Iran to curb its influence in the region.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPresident Trump knows that the main source of instability in the Middle East today is the Iranian regime,\u201d Hook stated. He emphasized the administration’s goal to weaken Iran to prevent it from financing proxy groups, adding, \u201cWhat President Trump did say in Riyadh was that he would isolate Iran diplomatically and weaken them economically so that they can\u2019t fund all of the violence\u201d by groups like the Houthis, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other militias active in Iraq and Syria.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hook underscored Trump\u2019s stance on Iran, clarifying that \u201cPresident Trump has no interest in regime change,\u201d reiterating that \u201cthe future of Iran will be decided by the Iranian people.\u201d Hook emphasized that the Trump administration\u2019s focus would instead be on curtailing Iran\u2019s regional influence, particularly in the Gulf region, which he called \u201cone of the world\u2019s most dynamic regions economically and culturally.\u201d He warned that \u201cthe extremism and revolutionary ideology that the Iranian regime exports\u201d are major obstacles to stability in the region.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sources tell CNN former US envoy to Iran, Brian Hook, is expected to lead the transition team at the State Department. — Becky Anderson (@BeckyCNN) November 7, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
I asked him if he believes Donald Trump\u2019s administration will, once again, pursue a policy of \u201cmaximum pressure\u201d against Iran given the rapprochement between\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/JUsNo3ljhh<\/a><\/p>\n