Former Iran envoy Brian Hook, who served under President Donald Trump, has expressed the view that President-elect Joe Biden sees Tehran as the primary source of instability in the Middle East. Hook attributes the ongoing crisis to Biden's perceived failure to deter Iran and its proxies.
In recent years, Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both major oil producers, have shifted their foreign policies towards improving relations with former adversaries, including Iran. However, when asked about these countries' stance on further escalation between Iran and Israel, Hook emphasized Trump's belief that the Iranian regime is the main destabilizing force in the region.
Hook anticipates that Trump will pursue a strategy aimed at diplomatically isolating Iran and weakening it economically to prevent the funding of groups that pose a threat to Israel and its regional allies. Notably, Hook clarified that Trump's approach does not involve seeking regime change in Iran.
According to Hook, the turmoil in the Middle East can be attributed to a policy of appeasement and accommodation towards Iran. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a credible threat of military force to uphold deterrence in the region.
Having served as a senior official at the State Department during Trump's first term, Hook is reportedly set to lead the transition team at the State Department in the upcoming administration. However, Hook declined to comment on these reports.
