U.S. sanctions policy on Iran more effective than 2015 nuclear deal- U.S. official

The United States' sanctions policy on Iran is a more effective non-proliferation tool to force Tehran to negotiate a broader deal than the 2015 nuclear deal, U.S. special representative for Iran Brian Hook said on Friday.

"Iran can never acquire a nuclear weapon, it would be catastrophic for the Middle East," Hook told reporters in a conference call. "Now that we are outside of the Iran nuclear deal, we are in a much better position to deny Iran a nuclear weapon.

"It allows us to then forcibly respond to Iran's regional aggression and that is what we have done with our sanctions," Hook said.