Hook, Line and Sinker: The State Department's Iran Hand Steps Up the Pressure on Tehran
NEW: Brian Hook is taking a swipe at the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Does he want to bring Iran to the table or overthrow its government?
The Reformist-aligned newspaper Fararu similarly warned Rouhani not to negotiate prematurely: “Experience shows that Iran enters negotiations with America when it has enough leverage to pressure the other side.”
Ironically, the staff of Fararu were mirroring the U.S. State Department’s line. “If you look at the history of this, Iran never comes back to the negotiating table without diplomatic isolation, economic pressure, and the threat of military force,” Hook told the September 4 press conference.
Matthew Petti is a national-security reporter at the National Interest.
Image: Reuters