"It’s weakening and it will get weaker especially as our sanctions increase in 2020," Hook told reporters. "It is already now at negative 10, 11, 12 per cent - roughly in that category. Secretary [Mike] Pompeo made clear a year-and-a-half ago that the Iranian regime faces a choice and the Supreme Leader keeps choosing to manage economic collapse."
Iran without a doubt is experiencing the deepest political and financial crisis over which Tehran is in a state of panic depression, US Special Representative for Iran said during a press briefing on Monday.
"It is unquestionable that Iran is facing its worst financial and political crisis," Hook told reporters.
He pointed out the Iranian government understands "very clearly" the economic pressure that Washington is applying on Tehran.
"Iran is currently in a state of panic depression," he said.
Hook said the United States will continue to combine diplomatic efforts with military power to protect its interests in the region.
"We are very pleased with the progress we have made," he said.
'Defensive Strikes' Against Pro-Iranian Militia
Hook spoke to reporters after the United State carried out in Iraq in Syria what it called were "defensive strikes" against the pro-Iranian militia Kata'ib Hezbollah.
US aircraft attacked five of Kata'ib Hezbollah facilities in response to Friday’s attack on a base near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk in which a US soldier was killed and four others injured.
The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of Iran-backed Shia militias in Iraq that includes Kata'ib Hezbollah, said that 25 fighters were killed and 51 others injured in the US attack.
