US Forms ‘Iran Action Group’ to Continue Aggressive Policy against Tehran

TEHRAN (Defapress) – Pompeo announced the creation of the Iran Action Group (IAG) at a news conference on Thursday, naming Brian Hook, the State Department's director of policy planning, as its head.

The formation of the group comes on the eve of the 65th anniversary of a previous American action against Iran - the CIA-led 1953 coup against the democratically-elected government of Mohammad Mosaddegh.

"We are committed to a whole of government effort to change the Iranian regime's behavior and the Iran Action Group will ensure that the Department of State will remain closely synchronized with our interagency partners," Pompeo said, according to the official website of the US secretary of state.

"The IAG will also lead the way in growing efforts with nations which share our understanding of the Iranian threat," he added.

Speaking to reporters after Pompeo, Hook claimed Iran's "malign activities" were "wide-ranging" and Washington's new strategy was addressing all manifestations of "the Iranian threat".

"The new Iran Action Group will be focused on implementing that strategy," added Hook, who will have the formal title of the Special Representative for Iran.

In late July, Trump said he is willing to meet with Iranian authorities with no preconditions - even though Pompeo later walked back some of the president's comments.
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