Enthusiastic audience, im sure. We ask you to be respectful, remind everyone that holding up signs or making verbal outbursts is disruptive and appropriate action will be taken if need be. This morning, we have a hearing on a matter that is really of pressing National Security importance. That is the relationship of the United States and for that matter the world with iran. This hearing is intended to do three things. Number one, we will consider the facts behind the maximum Pressure Campaign against iran. We will examine the elements of irans necessary Behavioral Changes that would satisfy u. S. And the worlds National Security interests. And thirdly, assess irans willingness to behave as a responsible member of the International Community. Their pursuit of regional domination following 1979 revolution transformed the fabric of the middle east. Dangerouslyregime weaponized religion against its neighbors. The regime triggered a sunnishieh war, threatens to unravel the greater middle east. The Nuclear Issue is but one aspect of the regimes malign conduct. Iran actively enables assads continued butchering of syria. They are working to subvert several regional governments below the level of Armed Conflict. The supportive proxies is perhaps the most nefarious. Ask our men and women in uniform who faced iranian provided roadside bombs in iraq. It already has american blood on its hands. For lack of a more Firm Response by Prior Administrations has only encouraged further iranian violence. The regimes abuses continue to be a concern inside its own border. Citizens live under arbitrary arrest and torture. Indeed, despite the regimes claims of religious legitimacy it is morally bankrupt. The ecliptic press he that steals from people to subvert its neighbors. That brings us to our question of the most appropriate policies to curb the totality of iranian behavior. It is my assessment that the maximum Pressure Campaign against iran is working and can serve as the bridge to more meaningful negotiations. I note that some of my colleagues have argued that the maximum Pressure Campaign is not working. I would be the first to concede that the campaign has not achieved its goals, but on the other hand, it is clearly working. Since may of last year, billions have denied of dollars in oil revenue. It will cost the regime is much as dollars annually every it the iranian economy faces unprecedented strains after rounds of highly targeted sanctions. Shrinking at ais rate that should alarm tehran. Nearly a 6 reduction in gdp for 2019 is estimated. , these are clear indications and clear evidence that indeed, the sanctions are working. For the first time, irans terror proxies have seen a reduction in funding. Has bola has been reduced has has beenezbollah reduced to panhandling. Mistake, every dollar that we deny the regimes money not spent on terrorism. For totaluests sanctions relief in order to come to the table should be and is a nonstarter. It regime must demonstrate is willing to negotiate in good faith or face continued pressure. The pressure must have an international face. For too long, our european friends have sought to preserve a moribund nuclear deal that offered iran a financial escape hatch to continue destabilizing the region. We have had numerous conversations with our european friends regarding that. I welcome the joint statement from the u. K. , france, and germany following irans attack in saudi arabia. Apart from rightly identifying iran as the corporate, our partners stress the importance of addressing the Regional Security issues, as well as the nuclear question. This is well received by us, but they must go further than that. Musturopean partners follow the United Kingdoms lead and support the pursuit of Behavioral Changes in irans part. My thoughts on the jcpoa are wellknown. A deal that only partly addressed to the Nuclear Issue and very importantly ignore the rest of irans terrorist conduct and enriched the regimess terrorist proxy. Any new deal should address iranian conflict curbing the Ballistic Missiles program, ensuring freedom of navigation consistent with international law, ending iranian adventurism, and the regimes efforts to promote civil war through its proxies. The Nuclear Solution should not merely Delay Development of a Nuclear Weapon or sunset in a manner that allows regime scientists to sprint to the finish line. It is in our vital National Security interest and the interest of the entire world that iran never possess a Nuclear Weapon. Finally, a topic has emerged in Public Discourse that should be addressed. There are many that blame the u. S. Diplomatic and economic efforts as the root cause of irans acts of violence. To you i say, you could not be more wrong. There is only one party to blame for irans acts of violence and that is the Iranian Regime. There is only one bad actor here and that is the Iranian Regime. The Iranian Regime is feeling the weight of the growing community against them. Absent an attack on americans or American Assets abroad, we should not be moved by iranian outbursts or attacks on shipping. We should remain steadfast and continue to apply pressure until the regime excuse me, we should continue to apply pressure until the regime capitulates and changes behavior. The Iranian Regime is faced with a sharp choice. Is long time that they enter the International Community is a good actor and enjoy the benefits that peaceloving nations take delight in. Otherwise, it will remain a pariah state. This is an important issue and im glad we have the attendance we have today to examine this issue and with that, i will recognize senator menendez. Thank you mr. Chairman for holding this important hearing. I just want to urge the chair, global events come at us fast and furiously. This committee historically has played a role in fashioning the u. S. Foreign policy and as we face the challenges in ukraine and syria, i hope that the chairman, i know that the Committee Democrats have written to the chair asking him for a hearing in ukraine, i think that would be echoed in syria. These are vitally important issues in terms of the Foreign Policy of the United States, the role that russia is playing, iran is playing, so i certainly will honorhe chair those requests and hold a hearing on both of those issues as expeditiously as possible. Now, this committee has not had a hearing on iran since march 2017, more than 2. 5 years ago. Because itfortunate has been one of the administrations biggest stated priorities and one in which i believe there is at least a basis of bipartisan consensus from which we could work. There is no doubt that and ronnie and Nuclear State would pose a threat. Iranian no doubt that proxy action is ongoing and destabilizing. UseUnited States should strategic diplomacy with our International Partners and allies to most effectively counter iran. Is everyone i think in this committee knows, i did not support the joint comprehensive plan of action. When the Trump Administration withdrew from the deal without a strategy and without partners, i worried that this unilateral approach would put our nation in the dangerous and lonely path that would ultimately leave iran emboldened. Im afraid to say i think i was right. Seems starvedgime of some financial resources, but that is all as far as i can tell. Beyond sanctions, our maximum Pressure Campaign only extends to sending american troops to pressure protect saudi arabia. The rest of the policies across the middle east seem to only have emboldened iran. Pardoned its political supporters and most devastatingly helped entrench itself in bashar alassads syria. You said that the two goals of the maximum Pressure Campaign or to deprive the Iranian Regime of money to stop its malign activity and to bring iran back to the negotiating table. However, application of this policy is confusing. One minute, the president is willing to make a deal, the next he is threatening to wipe out the iranian economy. You have utilized just about every sanctions Authority Available to you, but sanctions are only a viable tool if they are consistent. , a man was arrested in turkey in 2016 and correction with one of the largest iran sanctions of asian schemes in history. While his criminal case was i understand you are at least aware of these efforts. What does that say about the viability of american sanctions or this maximum Pressure Campaign . The iranians are holding out because they believe they can. They will not come to the table for a kim jongunlike photo op. My fundamental question mr. Hooks where are you in the harder diplomatic art of this campaign . How have you utilized the pressure to get iran to a negotiating table . I also would like to live in a world where we could sanction iran into stopping its support for terrorism, treating its own people with dignity and respect, and to releasing all unjustly at detained americans including a Princeton University student, but i live in the real world, where i know that in order to make a deal, you have to give something to get something. Now, seems like the ideal time to harness the pressure you have created. Im curious to know if you have laid out the parameters of a deal that the administration would accept, including limitations on research and development, limitations on enrichment and stockpile thents, and whether or not iranians will seek relief in the United States. Whether you have gone through back channels to try to engage iran in that regard. In negotiated agreement with iran with buyin from our International Partner to meaningfully constrain the Nuclear Program and address other malign activity. A deal that includes permanent and longterm restrictions, tackling the Ballistic Missile proliferation and addressing Regional Support for terrorism. About forward to hearing your progress to address this ongoing National Security priority. Want to agreend i with you 100 that this hearing is important and i think probably one of the most prescient issues facing the United States. It is the issue that has the most potential for having miscalculation by the other side and winding up with a situation that we really dont want to be in. I think that potential is there and more so with this regime than any other regime on the planet. Secondly, i agree that this committee has historically played an Important Role in Foreign Policy and continues to do so. I note that members of this committee are very active making statements stating their both to, giving advice the state department and the white house, members of this committee regularly communicate with the state department in the white house. We will of course continue to do that. I want to address briefly you mentioned that i had received a letter from you and members of the minority in the committee wanting certain hearings scheduled. I have taken that under advisement and im in the process of vetting that. Im doing some foundational work on that and i have talked with most members of the committee, not all, but almost all, i want to talk with other interested parties before i respond to that and it will respond in writing just as you did. I want to correct you respectfully regarding your criticism of the administrations withdrawal from the jcpoa. You indicated you supported the withdrawal or you did not support the jcpoa, but you supported the withdrawal. I urged the president to withdraw. The president withdrew with a very Clear Strategy and that strategy was to go back to the Pressure Campaign that was in place before the jcpoa negotiations started. It was not called the maximum Pressure Campaign, but it was the same thing. Tot i did agree with was stop the maximum Pressure Campaign and start negotiating when they were at a point when they had to negotiate. At the present time, we have a maximum Pressure Campaign, i reiterated the things that i think are pressuring the country. Talkpect mr. Hook will about that quite a bit more. Urging is that we stay with the strategy we have. That is continue to exert maximum pressure on the regime until they capitulate and they will, they will have to. With all that, thank you, and we have the honorable brian hook, special representative to iran. Mr. Hook leads the iran action group, responsible for coordinating all iranrelated activity within the u. S. State department. We could not have a better witness or a more informed witness or a more competent witness to address these issues before the committee. On a personal momo, ive had the good fortune to talk to mr. Hook on many occasions about these issues. I find him to be receptive, i find him to be wellinformed. And acting in the best faith in the best interest of the United States as we move forward. With that, mr. Hook, the floor is yours. Chairman thank you, for your very kind words. I would also like to thank the Ranking Member menendez for his Opening Statement and distinguished members of the committee. Ive appeared before this committee a number of times, mostly in private, so im very happy to have an opportunity to have a discussion on iran in a public setting. I have a longer prepared statement ive submitted, but why dont i go over some parts of that . We have implemented an unprecedented Pressure Campaign with two objectives, to deny the regime the revenue it needs to fund a revolutionary and expansionist Foreign Policy. Increase the is to incentives for iran to come to the negotiating table. Theou look at the history, 40year history of the United States have had, you see a consistent pattern that you need to have. More of these are what inform irans decisionmaking calculus. Foreign policyr squarely within the left right limits of economic pressure and diplomatic isolation. The president has also repeatedly expressed the United States willingness to negotiate with iran. Meet with willing to the iranians without preconditions. We are seeking a comprehensive deal. It needs to address four areas. Veryeds to address in a comprehensive way the threats iran presents International Peace and security. The Nuclear Program, Missile Program, it support to terrorist groups and proxies, and its 40year history of hostagetaking. This includes the arbitrary detention of u. S. Citizens. Before we exited the deal and reimposed sanctions and accelerated air pressure, iran was increasing the scope of its malign activity. We now have newly declassified information relating to irans Missile Program that i can share today. While the United States was still in the jcpoa, iran expanded its Ballistic Missile activities to partners across the region, including hezbollah, Palestinian Terrorist groups, and she of militias in iran. Transferredran whole missiles to a designated terrorist group in the region. Iran is continuing to develop Missile Systems and related technology solely for export to regional proxies and while we were in the jcpoa, iran increased its support to hezbollah, helping them produce a greater number of rockets and missiles. This arsenal is then used to target israel. Beyond continuing advancements to its Missile Program, iran was deepening its engagement in regional conflicts. Dealunder the iran nuclear , iran was given a Clear Pathway to import and export dangerous weapons. 18,days from now in october we will be exactly one year away from the expiration of the United Nations arms embargo on iran. Because of the Iran Nuclear Deal, countries like russia and china will soon be able to sell conventional weapons to iran. The Un Security Council