The Foreign Relations committee of the United States senate will come to order. The chair would note we have a full house today and an enthusiastic audience im sure. Wed ask you to be respectful. Remind everyone that holding up signs or making verbal outbursts during the proceedings is disruptive. And appropriate action will be taken. If needed well suspend briefly to restore order. This morning we have a hearing on a matter that is really of a 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. Well examine the elements of irans necessary behavioral changes. And thirdly, assess irans willingness to behave as a responsible member of the International Community. Irans pursuit of regional domination following the 1979 revolution transformed the fabric of the middle east. The Iranian Regime dangerously catalyzed secretarian identities and weaponized sect and religion against its neighbors. Triggered a sunni shia war. The Nuclear Issue is but one aspect of the regimes maligned conduct. Indeed, one of the biggest criticisms i had of the jcpoa was that it addressed only the Nuclear Issue and not the many other troubling aspects of irans behavior. Iran continues to threaten its neighbors with Ballistic Missiles, conduct criminal maritime activity in international waters, continues to unlawfully hold american citizens and fuels dangerous proxy conflicts. Munitions are a threat aimed at the heart of israel. Iran actively enabled assads continued butchery in syria. Noil the regime is working to subvert several of the regional governments. Irans supported proxies is perhaps the most nefarrioiousne. Iran already has american blood on its hands. The lack of more Firm Response by prior administrations has only encouraged further iranian violence. Inside of its borders the regimes abuses against its own people continue to be a concern. Iranian citizens live under constant threat of arbitrary arrest and torture for expressing their most basically rights. Despite the claims of religious freedom freedoms. That brings to the question to the most appropriate policies to curb the totality of iranian behavior. Its my assessment that the maximum Pressure Campaign against iran is working, they can serve as the bridge to more meaningful negotiations. I note that some of my colleagues have earargued publi its not that the Pressure Campaign is not working. Id be the first to concede the campaign has not achieved its goals. But on the other hand, it is clearly working. Since may of last year, sanctions have denied the regime over 25 billion in oil revenue. The administration estimates it will cost the regime as much as 50 billion annually. The iranian economy faces unprecedented strain after nearly 30 rounds of targeted sanctions, inflation is at 50 in iran and climbing. Their economy is shrinking at a rate that should alarm tehran. A 6 reduction in gdp for 2019 is estimated. In my judgment, these are clear indications and clear evidence that, indeed, the sanctions are working. For the first time irans terror proxies and seen a reduction in funding. Hezbollah has been reduced to pan handling for donations. Irans proxies are feeling the pinch. That are either going without pay or forced to undergoosi o austerity measures to survive. Irans requests for total sanctions relief in order to can come to the table should be and is a nonstarter. The regime must demonstrate its 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 nuclear deal that offered iran an escape hatch to continue to destable the region. Weve had numerous conversations with our european friends regarding that. Apart from rightly identifying iran as the culprit, our partners stress the importance of addressing Regional Security issues as well as the nuclear question. This is well received by us. But they must go further than that. Our partners must follow the United States lead and enforce changes on irans part. The deal was a poor one. One that only partly addressed the Nuclear Issue, and importantly very importantly, ignored the rest of irans terrorist conduct and enriched the regimes illicit terrorist proxies. Any new deal must address all aspects p curbing the Ballistic Missile program, insuring freedom of navigation. Any iranian adventurism and the regimes efforts to undermine governments and promote civil war in addition to the Nuclear Issue. It should not Delay Development of a weapon, or sunset in a matter that allows scientists to sprint to the finish line. Its in the u. S. vital security interest, and indeed the interest of the entire world that iran never possess a Nuclear Weapon. Finally, a topic is emerging in Public Discourse that should be addressed. There are many that blame the u. S. Diplomatic 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. Theres only one back actor here, the Iranian Regime. They are 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 capi t capitulates and changes everybod everybody abehavior and they will. Its long since they act as a responsible actor that all peace loving nations on the planet take delight in. Otherwise it will remain a pariah state. This is an important issue and im glad weve had the atte attendance we have today to examine that issue. With that, ill recognize senator menendez. Thank you, mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing. Before i get to the 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. 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 on ukraine. I think that would be echoed on syria. These are vitally important issues in terms of the Foreign Policy of the United States. The role that russia is playing, iran is hope. I certainly hope that the chair will honor those requests and hold a hearing on both those issues as expeditiously as possible. This committee has not had a hearing on iran since march of 2017. More than two and a half years ago which is unfortunate because its 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 an iranian enabled Nuclear State would pose a serious threat to the United States and its allies. There is equal agreement that iranian activity throughout the middle east including through proxies and terrorist organizations is ongoing, dangerous and destabilizing. There is, i believe, also widespread agreement that the United States should utilize strategic diplomacy, including sanctions with our International Partners and allies to most effectively counter iran. As everyone i think on this committee knows, i did not support the joint comprehensive action. And when the Trump Administration withdrew, i worried this would put our nation on a dangerous and lonely path that would ultimately leave iran emboldened. Mr. Hook, im afraid to say i think i was right. Yes, the Iranian Regime seems starved of some financial resources. But as far as i can tell, thats all. It would appear that beyond sanctions our maximum Pressure Campaign only extends to sending american troops to protect saudi arabia. In fact, the rest of the administrations policies across the middle east seem only to have emboldened iran. Harden its political supporters from hezbollah to militias in iraq and most devastatingly help entrench itself in basher al assads syria. On the nuclear front, it warned it would, iran is now slowly winding down the Nuclear Restrictions, the jcpoa enclosed putting it closer to weaponization. Iran has pursued this for more than 40 years. Frankly i couldnt agree more. But i dont see your policies meani meaningfully changing that behavior. You said the two goals of the maximum Pressure Campaign are 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 theyre consistent. For example, a man was arrested in 2016 in connection with one of the largest iran sanctions evasions schemes in history. However, while his criminal case was ongoing, we recently learned that the president and his personal attorney, Rudy Guiliani were trying to get him freed from prison. I understand youre 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 for now they can. They will not come to the table for a kim jongunlike photo off. My fundamental question for you, mr. Hook, is where are you on the harder diplomatic part 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 detained americans, including a Princeton University student. But i live in the real world where i know that in order to make a delia haal you have to g something to get something. Now seems like the ideal time to harni harness the pressures you created. Whether you have any sense of what the iranians will seek in relief from the United States. Id like to know whether you have indirectly or directly or through back channels or other countries, sought to engage iran in that regard. So mr. Hook, lets use our diplomatic tools as leverage for what we should be trying to achieve, a negotiated agreement with iran, with buy in from our International Partners to meaningfully constrain its Nuclear Program and address other malign activity. A deal that includes permanent and long term restrictions on Irans Nuclear capacity. Tackles its Ballistic Missile proliferation and one that addresses Regional Support for terrorism including through the transfers of weapons. I look forward to hearing about your progress to address this ongoing National Security priority. Thank you, senator menmendem. This hearing on iran is important. And i think probably one of the most pressing issues facing the United States, because i think its the issue that has the most potential for having miscalculation by the other side in winding up with a situation that we really dont want to be in. I think that potential is there, more so with this regime than any other regime on the planet. I agree with you 100 this committee has historically played an Important Role in Foreign Policy. It continues to do so. I note that members of this committee are very active in public making statements, stating their opinions, giving advice to the administration both to the state department and the white house. Members of the committee regularly i know communicate with the state department and with the white house. And we will, of course, continue to do that. I want to address briefly. You mentioned i received a letter from you and members of the Minority Committee wanting certain hearings scheduled. Ive taken it under advisement. Ill doing some foundational work on that. I want to talk ive talked would most members of the committee, not all, but almost all. I want to talk with other interested parties before i respond to that and i will respond to that in writing, just as you did. Lastly, i want to correct you respectfully regarding your criticism of the administrations withdrawal from the jcpoa. You indicated that you supported the withdrawal, or i guess you didnt support the jcpoa. I dont recall whether or not you urged the withdrawal. I do support the withdrawal. The strategy was to go back to the maximum Pressure Campaign that was in place. It wasnt called the maximum Pressure Campaign but it was the same thing. I agreed with that at that time. What i disagreed with was to sit down and start negotiating when they werent at a point where they had to negotiate. At the present time, we have a maximum Pressure Campaign. I reiterated the things i think are pressuring the country. I suspect mr. Hook will talk about that quite a been more. My urging is that we stay with the strategy we have, it Clear Strategy weve had since we withdrew from the jcpoa. Thats continued to exert maximum pressure on the regime until they capitulate. Theyll have to. With all that thank you, we have the honorable brian hook, advisor to the secretary of state, a special respective, he leads the Iran Action Group which is responsibility for directing, reviewing and coordinating all iran related activity within the u. S. State department. We couldnt have a better witness or a more informed witness or more confident witness to address these issues before the committee. On a personal note ive had the good fortune to talk to mr. Hook on many, many occasions about these issues and consult with him on these issues. I find him to be receptive. I find him to be wellinformed and acting in the best faith and best interest of the United States as we move forward. And so with that, mr. Hook, the floor is yours. Thank you, chairman, thank you for your very kind words. I would also like to thank Ranking Member menendez for his Opening Statement and distinguished members of the committee. I appeared before this committee a number of times. Mostly been in private. So im very happy to have an opportunity to have a discussion on iran in the public setting. I have a longer prepared statement ive submitted. Why dont i go over some parts of that submitted statement. We have implemented an unprecedented Pressure Campaign. One is to deny the regime the revenue it needs to fund a revolutionary and expansionist Foreign Policy. The other one is to increase the incentives for iran to come to the negotiating table. If you look at the history, 40 year history the United States has had with this nation, you see a consistent pattern that you need to have either economic pressure, diplomatic isolation or the threat of military force. Its one or more of these factors or what informed irans Decision Making calculus. We have kept our Foreign Policy 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. And were willing to meet with the iranians without preconditions. We are seeking a comprehensive deal. It needs to address four areas. It needs to address in a comprehensive way the threats that iran present to International Peace and security. And that the their Nuclear Program, their Missile Program, its support to terrorist groups and proxies and its 40 year history of hostage taking. This includes the arbitrary detention of u. S. Citizens. Before we exited the deal, and reimposed sanction and accelerated our pressure iran was increasing the scope of its malign activity. We now have newly declassified information relating to irans Missil