U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shared information on "escalating" threats from Iran with European allies and NATO officials during meetings in Brussels on Monday, the U.S. special representative for Iran Brian Hook said.
"Iran is an escalating threat and this seemed like a timely visit on his way to Sochi," Hook said, referring to Pompeo’s planned visit to Russia for meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Pompeo "wanted to share some details behind what we have been saying publicly," the U.S. diplomat said. According to him, the U.S. urges Iran to "try talks instead of threats." Iran's authorities "have chosen poorly by focusing on threats,” Hook noted.
He also confirmed that Pompeo, while in Brussels, also discussed reported attacks on several oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported.
Asked if Pompeo was blaming Iran for the attacks, Hook said: "We discussed ... what seemed to be attacks on commercial vessels that were anchored off Fujairah ... we have been requested by the UAE to provide assistance in the investigation, which we are very glad to do."
