“As Secretary Pompeo has said, this new strategy is not about changing the regime – it is about changing the behavior of the leadership of Iran to comport with what the Iranian people really want them to do,” said Hook
“A key part of our new strategy is a campaign of maximum economic, diplomatic pressure.”
The first wave of new US sanctions on Iran will be activated on August 4. These will specifically target Iran’s automotive industry, trade in gold and other key metals, said Hook.
The second phase will begin on November 6, targeting Iran’s energy sector, petroleum related business, and the central bank of Iran.
Since June 4, the US has established a joint team of senior officials from the US State Department and Treasury to visit as many countries as possible to urge them to comply with the US sanctions against Iran.
According to Hook, the joint team has already visited 13 countries in Europe and Asia.
“Many countries around the world share our interests in countering terrorism, halting the proliferation of missiles, and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. We want to work with these countries to promote a strong global effort,” said Hook.
“We are bringing severe economic pressure on Iran until the regime changes its destabilizing policies.”
On June 28, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley travelled to India to urge New Delhi to “rethink” its business relationship with Iran. India is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil after China.
Also earlier on June, US officials visited Japan to urge Tokyo to find an alternative oil supplier to Iran.
China, India, Japan, and South Korea are the top customers of Iranian crude. The four Asian states together import around 55 percent of the Iran’s total 2.7 million barrel export.
Iran is currently exporting around 2.5 million barrels per day. US President Donald Trump announced on June 30 that Saudi Arabia’s King Salman had agreed to increase Saudi oil output by two million barrels per day to make up for the expected collapse in Iranian production.
On May 9, Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, sending shockwaves through Iran’s economy.
“More than 50 firms have announced their intension to leave the Iranian market particularly in energy and financial sectors,” Hook said.
Multinationals that have halted business in Iran include oil companies of Total and Shell, the world’s largest shipping container line Maersk, and aircraft producers of Airbus and Boeing.
The joint US team will next call on the Gulf countries to join the sections effort against Iran.
Iran has seen several protests over economic hardship and water shortage in recent months.
