Pompeo Forms ‘Iran Action Group’ In Light Of Nuclear Deal Withdrawal

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the director of the CIA, Rep.ÊMike Pompeo(R-KS) testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. Mr. Pompeo is a former Army officer who graduated first in his class from West Point.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the director of the CIA, Rep.Mike Pompeo(R-KS) attends his confirmation hearing before the Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee on Janua... WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the director of the CIA, Rep.Mike Pompeo(R-KS) attends his confirmation hearing before the Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee on January 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. Mr. Pompeo is a former Army officer who graduated first in his class from West Point. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) MORE LESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is forming a special group to coordinate and run U.S. policy toward Iran as the Trump administration moves ahead with efforts to force changes in the Islamic Republic’s behavior after withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.

The State Department said Pompeo would announce the creation of the Iran Action Group on Thursday. Officials said the group will be headed by Brian Hook, who is currently the State Department’s director of policy planning.

They said Hook is expected to be replaced in that job by Kiron Skinner, a foreign policy academic who served very briefly on the State Department transition team after President Donald Trump took office.

The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss personnel matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.

16
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. “Iran Action Group.”

    Nice name. Doesn’t suggest anything at all.

    Is State the only agency involved? Or has Defense been invited to the party?

  2. Also known as the “what the Hell do we do now” group.

  3. Why do they need to gather a bunch of knuckle draggers when it’s already decided to bomb Iran? Oh I get it, it’s part of the Wingnut Welfare Network.

  4. “Hook is expected to be replaced in that job by Kiron Skinner.”

    “Skinner plans to condition Iran’s behavior by placing it in a small box with a lever to dispense food pellets.”

    (Apologies to Psych majors.)

  5. Avatar for matx matx says:

    A little bit late on that, IMHO…

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

10 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for paulw Avatar for mondfledermaus Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for becca656 Avatar for irasdad Avatar for johnrm Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for zlohcuc Avatar for rickjones Avatar for tiowally Avatar for matx Avatar for brian512 Avatar for pauldownard Avatar for the_loan_arranger Avatar for rascal_crone

Continue Discussion