1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Why from our nations this budget thing is going to 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: do nothing spaceports. I still think it's interesting President Trump 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: not playing his cards yet. Headlines Policy and politics colliding 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: sound on with Kevin's related the insiders, the influencers, the insides. 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: I would rather see a congressional solution. It's part of 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: my DNA. The Senate map in looks a lot different 7 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: than it looked in. You really have a divide within 8 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: Team Trump. The president has to do exactly what people 9 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: send him here to do, which is to get it done. 10 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: He's sound on with Kevin's. He related on Bloomberg one 11 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: and one oh five point seven f m h D 12 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: two bottom are high political drama on Capitol Hill. The 13 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: big bank CEO's grilled by members of the House Financial 14 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: Services Committee. I'll bring you my exclusive interview with House 15 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, the Democrat from California, says, 16 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: get ready for a quote unquote new day. Plus the 17 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: Fed minutes revealing that they that there are some flexibility 18 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: during a year of patients. But we have a very 19 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: special guest with us in studio, Brian Hook. He is 20 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: a senior advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He 21 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: is the special representative for Iran. We asked him about 22 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 1: what it means for the US withdrawal from the Iran 23 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: nuclear disarmament deal. I want to get to that exclusive interview, 24 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: but first let's get caught up to speed on what 25 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: we missed today from Nancy Lyons. Nancy, thanks Kevin. As 26 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: you mentioned, chief executives of the bank sometimes dubbed too 27 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 1: big to fail, defended their bigness today before the House 28 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: Financial Services Committee. Bloomberg ser of Chapman was there. The 29 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: bankers cited international competitiveness. Jamie Diamond of Jake B. Morgan 30 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: Chase JP. Morgan moves actually six trillion dollars around the 31 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: world every single day for our clients American corporations, multiple 32 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: bond issues that would all have to be done by 33 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: other large banks not based in the the United States from America. 34 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: James Garment of Morgan Stanley. We are responsible for about 35 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: me one of all equities trading around the world. Effective 36 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: markets depend upon institutions like us being able to make markets. 37 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: If we're not doing it, they'd be huge. The banker's 38 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 1: urgent regulations to be harmonized. The level of playing field 39 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: with big foreign banks on Capitol Hill or of Chapman 40 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio. Attorney General William Barr was back on Capitol 41 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: Hill for a second day today, being grilled by lawmakers 42 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: about the Mueller findings. Congress is still waiting to see 43 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: the full Muller report. Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware 44 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 1: says Bar dodged questions about how much of the report 45 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: the White House has seen. I think it's really striking 46 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 1: that Attorney General Barr had yet another opportunity to stay clearly, 47 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: I did not share this report with the White House. 48 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: I did not brief the President on this matter before 49 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: its release to the public and Congress, and he declined 50 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: to do so. Barr did tell lawmakers he does not 51 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: know if Robert Muller supported his conclusion that the Special 52 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: Council's report had insufficient and evidence to establish President Trump 53 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: obstructed justice. May Land Governor Larry Hogan's planned to toll 54 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: and widen the Beltway into seventy has dodged a potentially 55 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: long delay. Bloomberg's Martin Decarro with that story. Maryland Transportation 56 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: Secretary Pete Ron convinced state lawmakers to drop legislation that 57 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: would have effectively delayed the highway plans for three years. 58 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: We have to do something about traffic congestion, but opponents 59 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: say the state's moving too fast to get these massive 60 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: projects approved at a time when Maryland should be building 61 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: more public transit. Transit by itself cannot resolve this choking congestion. 62 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: Ron intends to solicit proposals from private road building companies 63 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: this spring before the necessary environmental studies are finished. Martin 64 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: Decarro Bloomberg one oh five point seven h D two 65 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: and unidentified gambler in Nevada is betting eighty five thousand 66 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: dollars on Tiger Woods to win the Masters, a wager 67 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: that would pay out one point two million if the 68 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: one time golf superstar takes his fifth green jacket this weekend. 69 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: The bed at four team to one odds represents the 70 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: largest liability for a single golf ticket and William Hill's 71 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: seven year history taking wagers in the US. You can, 72 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: by the way, catch full Masters coverage starting tomorrow right 73 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 1: here on Bloomberg. Whil'st time now for the Beltway. Business 74 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: report for that would go to Bloomberg's Larry Kovski Well Nancy. 75 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: Minutes from last month's Federal Reserve Policy meeting contained no 76 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: surprises for Wall Street, confirming the Fed's debbish policy tilled 77 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,840 Speaker 1: this year. Most Fed officials believed that economic conditions would 78 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: likely warrant holding the line on interest rates. It was 79 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: a narrowly higher day on Wall Street that now Jones 80 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 1: Industrial Average added six, the SMP five hundred rows ten, 81 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: and as that composite gained fifty four. Turnaround efforts are 82 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: starting to pay off. At bed Bath and beyond. The 83 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,799 Speaker 1: homegoods retailer offered a better than expected outlook, but there's 84 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: more to be done. Same store sales for its latest 85 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: quarter fell more than forecast, even his earnings beat estimates. 86 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: The tales have begun to emerge about what made the 87 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: biggest initial public offering of Investors could get their first 88 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: look at detailed information about Uber as soon as tomorrow. 89 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: The sources Uber is seeking to raise about ten billion 90 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: dollars with its I p O. The Bloomberg on Washington, 91 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 1: d C Area stock index gained a tenth of a 92 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 1: percent Europe to date. On business from the Beltway to Baltimore. 93 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: I'm Larry Kowsky. This is Bloomberg one oh five point 94 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: seven f M H D two thanks Larry. Global News 95 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: twenty four hours a day on air and at TikTok 96 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: on Twitter, powered by more than twenty journalists and analyst 97 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: and more than a hundred and twenty countries. I'm Nancy Lions. 98 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: Now back to you, Kevin. Thank you, Nancy. It was 99 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: a remarkable day in the Rayburn House building. We're gonna 100 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: have much more reporting from the House Financial Services Committee, 101 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: from where House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters convened 102 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:57,679 Speaker 1: the largest bank CEOs, Jamie Diamond, David Solomon, all of them, 103 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:02,119 Speaker 1: and for hours, hours were grilled one after the other. Uh, 104 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 1: the largest gathering of banks ceo since the Great Recession. 105 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: But what will come out of it? Not much if 106 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 1: you ask Republicans. But I'll bring you the latest on that. 107 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: But we are joined now by a very special guest 108 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 1: and a special edition of sound On for Bloomberg Radio. 109 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 1: Brian Hook is with me in studio. We just got 110 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: off of Bloomberg Television and I'm thrilled to have him 111 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: for for our first two segments. He's a senior policy 112 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and truly the 113 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 1: architect in the administration of US Iran policy. He's a 114 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: special representative for Iran UH and there was remarkable foreign 115 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: policy news blank and you'll miss it, especially with this 116 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: news flow earlier this week, because on Monday, UH the 117 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 1: US designated the Revolutionary Guards Courts, which is a military 118 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: organization inside of Iran, a terror risk organization. And this 119 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 1: is the first time, Brian, that this has ever happened, 120 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: that the administration, any administration, has taken a step like this. 121 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: Explain to me precisely how this decision came about and 122 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: what exactly it means. This is the first Sorry about that. 123 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: Your mic was off. Now you're on sound on. Yeah, 124 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: you're right, Kevin. This this is the first time that 125 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: the United States has designated part of another government as 126 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: a foreign terrorist organization. And the decision that Secretary Pompeio 127 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: made really underlines that the Iranian regime's use of terrorism 128 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: makes it fundamentally different from any other government. They use 129 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: terrorism as a tool of their foreign policy. It's an 130 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: essential element of what they do. So when we hear 131 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: about instability in the Middle East, typically Iran's Revolutionary Guard 132 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: Corps and its CUDS force are a or the principal 133 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: driver mind the terrorism. So with this particular step, in 134 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 1: addition to the US withdrawal from the j c p 135 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: o A and the sanctions that have been going back 136 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: on what what is the U s signaling to Iran? 137 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: The we are trying to deny the Iranian regime the 138 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: revenue that it needs to sustain its destabilizing foreign policy. 139 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: And that's where I want to take the conversation. But 140 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: because by labeling this terrorist organization, you're essentially saying you 141 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 1: can't do business with these folks. Yes, and the Revolutionary 142 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: Guard Corps controls up to half of Iran's economy and 143 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 1: half of the economy up to half, there's various estimates, 144 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: but the regime has put in place this Revolutionary Guard 145 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: core which is active across most sectors of the Iranian economy. 146 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: So when foreign direct investors do business in Iran, they 147 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: don't know whether they're facilitating commerce or terrorism. And it's 148 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: very often the case that a lot of the money 149 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: that goes to Iran ends up on the battlefields in Syria, 150 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 1: in Iraq, in Yemen, various places, supporting Lebanese has Bela, 151 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: supporting Hamas. And we're trying to get at that revenue. 152 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: During the Iran nuclear deal, we suspended our oil sanctions 153 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 1: on Iran. We also suspended our banking sanctions. Getting out 154 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,839 Speaker 1: of the deal has given US enormous economic and diplomatic 155 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 1: leverage to deter Iran's threats to peace and security. Brian 156 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: Hook is my guest with me in studio. He is 157 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: the special representative for Iran and a senior policy advisor 158 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. What's the ultimate end 159 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: goal with Iran? You write about this in your New 160 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: York Times op ed. I was reading it over the 161 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: weekend and again in preparation for this interview. What is 162 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: the ultimate long term US goal for Iran, especially now 163 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 1: that we've withdrawn from the j c p o A. 164 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: We want the Iranian regime to behave more like a 165 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: normal nation and less like a revolutionary cause. This is 166 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: the last revolutionary regime on earth, and the Revolutionary Guard 167 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 1: Corps is the instrument that it uses to export revolution. 168 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: For example, has Lebanese Hezbollah se of Hasbollah's budget comes 169 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: from Iran. They give them seven million dollars a year. 170 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: And you go around the region in Yemen where we 171 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: have a humanitarian catastrophe, the Hoothies have received hundreds of 172 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: millions of dollars from the Iranians to sustain their war 173 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: fighting effort against Saudi and the Emirates. So we are 174 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: trying to get Iran to pull back to its own borders. 175 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: And if we were to imagine in Iran that invested 176 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: its money in its own people and stopped uh engaging 177 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: in this adventurism around the Middle East, the Middle East 178 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,959 Speaker 1: would look a lot more peaceful and a lot more stable. 179 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: And that's our goal. So I find this interesting, Bryan Hook, 180 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: our guests, he's a senior policy advisor to Secretary of 181 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,839 Speaker 1: State Mike Pompeo. Because it really is, especially in a 182 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: globalized economy, it's about stopping the access to capital from 183 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,719 Speaker 1: from these regimes. And but how do you strike this 184 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: balance because everybody knows obviously in the energy sector world, 185 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: the oil markets, I mean, they're so interconnected. How does 186 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: the administration how do you, Brian Hook, how do you 187 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: strike that balance with adding sanctions against Iran but also 188 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: you know, not hurting US partners and US employers. It's true, Kevin, 189 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: You is a really good question. The regime's revenue comes 190 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: from oil exports, and a lot of those exporters are 191 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 1: around Asia, countries like China, India, Korea, Japan, Turkey, a 192 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:52,439 Speaker 1: whole range of countries. We have taken over twenty countries 193 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: that used to be importing Irani and crewde to zero. 194 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: At the same time, we have avoided volatility in the 195 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: oil markets, and the President's direction last year when we 196 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: reimposed our oil sanctions was to impose as much economic 197 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: pressure as you can, but don't lift the price of oil. Now. 198 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: We had to do that at a time when we 199 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: had a pretty tight and fragile oil market. Now in 200 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: nineteen where the forecast shows supply exceeding demand, we're in 201 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 1: a much better position to accelerate our goal of zero 202 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 1: imports of Iranian crude um. But so far we've been 203 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: able to successfully balance our national security objectives and our 204 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: economic interests. All coming up, Brian Hook stays, We've got 205 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: much more to talk about, especially in terms of where 206 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: ultimately US policy goes from here. And also there's this 207 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: Platz report I want to get your your take on 208 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: as well. Brian Hook stays he's the special representative for Iran, 209 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: the go to guy in President Trump's administration dictating and 210 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 1: crafting Middle East policy. Senior policy advisor to Secretary of 211 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:01,839 Speaker 1: State Mike Pompeo. I'm Kevin SURRELLI you're listening to bloom Burge. 212 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: You're listening to Sound On with Kevin Surreally on Bloomberg 213 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:12,079 Speaker 1: one and one oh five point seven F M h 214 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: D two, Baltimore. Welcome back. I'm Kevin Cirelli, Bloomberg News 215 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: Chief Washington correspondent for Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio. We 216 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: are joined by a very special guest, Brian Hook. He 217 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: is the special representative for Iran and the senior policy 218 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. We're talking about 219 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 1: Iran policy because there was this major development and we're 220 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 1: grateful to be able to dive into the policy specifics 221 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 1: of this. On Monday, the US and President Trump's administration 222 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: designated Iran's Relative Revolutionary Guard SCORE a terrorist organization. It's 223 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: really the first time it happened. And before we we 224 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: we went to break, we were talking about how to 225 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: to find that balance of adding sanctions on a rigion 226 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: geame like Iran, but also not disrupting global oil markets. 227 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 1: And so I'm curious whether or not, in particular the 228 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 1: US you think Brian is going to continue to grant 229 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: waivers that allow limited cooperation with Iran on nuclear issues. 230 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: The current policy administration is that we we certainly aren't 231 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: looking to grant any exceptions or waivers because when we do, 232 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: it weakens the impact of our campaign of maximum economic pressure. 233 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: And we've been able to take many billions of dollars 234 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: um we've denied it on a lot of revenue, not 235 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: only on the oil side, but on the banking side 236 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: and then other sectors. So we've been very successful and 237 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: very happy with Like the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Azrala, recently, 238 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: for the first time in its history, had to make 239 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: a public appeal for donations because Iran is not able 240 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: to fund them at the historic level they've become accustomed to. 241 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: And that's because partly because of our sanctions and partly 242 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: because as the Iranian regime is a kleptocracy and it 243 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: mismanages its own economy. So we've been happy with with 244 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 1: the success we've had to date. There is a lot 245 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: more to come. We just did the i r g 246 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: C last week that is going to make those sectors 247 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: of the Iranian economy that are controlled or influenced by 248 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: the IRGC radioactive. It sounds like the door is shut, 249 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: but there's a crack open in terms of a waiver. Now, 250 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: I'm not going to preview the Secretary's uh may second 251 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: is when the the current set of waivers expire. And 252 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: and as I said, in the last year we had 253 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: we had a pretty tough oil market. This year, we 254 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: think things look a little bit better. Um. But there 255 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: I just want to mention you mention before we went 256 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: to the break that there was a plot story that 257 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: was out um, and I just we were a little 258 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: bit surprised to see that. We think those numbers are misleading. Um. 259 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: We have as I said earlier, there are over twenty 260 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: country over twenty countries who used to be importing Iranian 261 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: crewed that are now at zero. And Platts was reporting 262 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: that Iran is at pre sanctions levels. Iran used to 263 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: be at around two point seven. Um. We have taken 264 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: off one and a half million barrels just within the 265 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: last eleven months. I can't remember exactly the date, but 266 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: we've taken off a lot of oil. I think Platts 267 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: is counting cargoes that aren't going to buyers. And what 268 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: we see is those countries that have s R s 269 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: are importing at the negotiated levels of imports of Irani 270 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: and crude, and we're very happy with the kind of 271 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: I'll give you an example the impact we're having. The 272 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: i m F today, I think it was today or 273 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: yesterday revised its global forecast and has Iran's economy UM 274 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: at negative five or higher. And so Iran is very 275 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: clear in a recession now. And as I said, part 276 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: of that is because they mismanaged their economy, and part 277 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:07,719 Speaker 1: of it's because of our sanctions are having an impact. 278 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 1: Brian Hook is the Special representative for Iran and a 279 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 1: senior policy advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He's 280 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: with us here in studio. The President has spoken of 281 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: quote unquote maximum economic pressure campaign against Iran in terms 282 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: of if you are in your car driving home from work, UH, 283 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,239 Speaker 1: and you're trying to figure out what the ultimate end 284 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: goal for for President Trump is. Is it to ultimately 285 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: in several years get Iran back to a nuclear disarmament deal. 286 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: Is it to work with the U N, is it 287 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 1: to go what is Obviously we were talking about this earlier. 288 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: Obviously President Trump and the U S would like to 289 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 1: see a nuclear disarmed Iran and for them to stop 290 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: doing missile testing and stop with with all of that. 291 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 1: But is the goal I think we sometimes lose sight 292 00:17:57,520 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: of the May second deadline and whatnot. Is the goal 293 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: of all of this to put so much pressure on 294 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: them that they have no choice but to get to 295 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: some type of a negotiation. Yes, Iran can either start 296 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 1: behaving like a normal nation or they can watch their 297 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: economy crumble. That's the choice that they face. You have 298 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: a national security cabinet, the president's national cabinet is committed 299 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: to this to this policy. In May of last year, 300 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: Secretary of State Pompeo gave a speech at the Heritage 301 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:30,679 Speaker 1: Foundation where he laid out the twelve requirements for Iran 302 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: so that it starts looking more like a normal nation. 303 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 1: That continues to be our policy. Right now, we're denying 304 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: them the revenue they need to behave like an outlaw regime, 305 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: and that's going to continue. We would like to get 306 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: a new deal that replaces the Iran Nuclear Deal, that 307 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,920 Speaker 1: covers the nuclear threats, the missile threats, and Iran's regional aggression, 308 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: and also the arbitrary detention of dual nationals, which includes Americans. 309 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 1: I would be totally remiss if I did not ask 310 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 1: you about your Hollywood background. It's my understanding, and I 311 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 1: can't believe that. Talk about a pivot. Tom Keene, if 312 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 1: you're listening, talk about a rough pivot. You were an 313 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: extra and Ferris Bueller's day Off in the in the 314 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: famous scene too, with the twist and shout scene. Yeah, 315 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: Kevin and I were talking about this before we went 316 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 1: on tv UM. Yeah. And when I was in high school, 317 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: I grew up in Bettendorf, Iowa, and I made a 318 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: trip to Chicago and happened to be walking downtown as 319 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 1: they were filming the parade float scene and Ferris Bueller's 320 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 1: Day Off, And so I ended up becoming an extra 321 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: on John Hugheses film when he's singing twist and shouts. 322 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 1: So that's got to be your favorite movie. Yeah, I 323 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:45,120 Speaker 1: think my place in history is secure. I'm gonna leave 324 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 1: it there. Brian Hoke, special representative for Iran and Senior 325 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: policy advisor to Secretary of State Mike FROMPEO, thank you 326 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 1: for hanging out with us on Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio. 327 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: You can check out his op ed in the New 328 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 1: York Times articulating the U S policy for Iran, and 329 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 1: of course all of the Administration's positions on US Iran policy. 330 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: Our thanks to Brian. You can download the sound On 331 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: podcast after the show on Apple iTunes, at Bloomberg dot com, 332 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,200 Speaker 1: or by downloading the Bloomberg Business app. Check us out 333 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 1: on Radio dot com, I Heart Radio and Spotify. I'm 334 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 1: Kevin Surreally. You're listening to Bloomberg. You're listening to Sound 335 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 1: On with Kevin Surreally on Bloomberg one and one oh 336 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: seven f m h D two Baltimore. Did just see this? 337 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: The Fed minutes came out today. Federal Reserve policymakers last 338 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:42,159 Speaker 1: month grappling with quote unquote significant uncertainties end quote. Do 339 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: you wonder what that is? Trade? And persistently low inflation 340 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,479 Speaker 1: as they scrapped forecast for interest rate hikes in nineteen 341 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: even while voicing the needs to maintain policy flexibility. I'm 342 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 1: reading my colleagues report, Craig Torrez. You can read the 343 00:20:56,800 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: full full report over on the Bloomberg Terminal. Will have 344 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: much more on the economic front coming up, especially from 345 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, Democrat from California. 346 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 1: She convened the largest gathering of big bank CEOs at 347 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: a Congressional hearing since the two thousand and eight Great Recession, 348 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 1: and it was high high political theater. Sometimes not good theater, 349 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: but theater. Nonetheless, much more on that front coming up, 350 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,879 Speaker 1: But I do want to help break down our exclusive 351 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: interview today that we just heard from from Brian Hook. 352 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: Have you heard his name, because now you know it, 353 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: Brian Hook. He is the go to guy inside of 354 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 1: the Trump administration on Iran policy, really, the architect of 355 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: President Trump's Iran nuclear disarmament policy and decision really to 356 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: get out of the Obama administration's Iran deal j C. 357 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: P o A. He's a senior policy advisor to Secretary 358 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: of State Mike oh and a special representative for Iran. 359 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: Has been around national security conservative circles for decades. UH 360 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: and we are grateful that he came in studio for 361 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: Bloomberg TV and Bloomberg Radio. Huggar Kamali Uh is with 362 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,119 Speaker 1: me now to help break all of that down. UH. 363 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:22,119 Speaker 1: And she is the CEO of Greenwich Media Strategies. She 364 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: is a former Treasury spokesperson for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence 365 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: in the Obama administration and the former spokesperson for the 366 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,360 Speaker 1: US mission to the U N You heard that interview, 367 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: What did you make of it? You know, it was 368 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,440 Speaker 1: it was fascinating when it was a great interview. I 369 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 1: have a long history in sanctions in particular, so I 370 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: started my career, believe it or not, under President Bush 371 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: working in the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at 372 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 1: Treasury when we started in two thousand six the initial 373 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: sanctions on Iran and um. So, you know, the things 374 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 1: I found fascinating with his interview in particular, certainly the 375 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: financial aspect, which I want to dive into a little 376 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: bit more in a set in a second. But you know, 377 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 1: I thought his messaging on the question of deterring Iran 378 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 1: in terms of its support for terrorism and it's nefarious 379 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: behavior across the region and changing its behavior, I thought 380 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 1: that was interesting because he's trying to disabuse this belief 381 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 1: propagated by many right now that the administration is actually 382 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: trying to pursue regime change. So between that and his 383 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 1: op ed, which his op ed was essentially about that 384 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: topic as well, you know, changing Iran's behavior so that 385 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: the U s RON relationship could could be ignited. UM. 386 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: You know, I thought that was a really interesting point. 387 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 1: So do you agree with it? I mean, I think 388 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: I think that is I think it's the right goal. 389 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 1: I don't think regime change makes sense. It's not something 390 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 1: that the United States has ever done well. But I 391 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: want to ask you about a question, do you But 392 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 1: I mean, so you're saying that the US is pretty 393 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: clear here, the President Trump and Brian hook we're pretty 394 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: clear here that they're not pursuing regime change, trying to 395 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 1: get them to negotiate. And I was I was interested 396 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 1: in your perspective and in terms of this this idea 397 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: of of finding the balance between sanctions but making sure 398 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: the sanctions are and you know this making sure that 399 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,320 Speaker 1: the sanctions aren't gonna you know, shoot the US and 400 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: the foot for lack of a better term, or hurt 401 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 1: US businesses totally. So I'm a complete sanctions nerd. I'm 402 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: so excited to talk about this part in particular. You know, 403 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: first of all, when it comes to sanctions, and Brian 404 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 1: Hooks said that part of the goal in listing the 405 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: i r g C on the Foreign Terrorist Organization list 406 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 1: on Monday, actually it takes place April fifteenth, but their 407 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 1: their announcement with the intent to designate them. That part 408 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: of it was to further financially isolate the Islamic Revolutionary 409 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: Guard Corps UM. The issue there is that you really 410 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 1: can't further isolate them. Then they've already been isolated because 411 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: they were sanctioned over ten years ago. So the i 412 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,400 Speaker 1: r g C was sanctioned in October two thousand seven. 413 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: I was there at the Treasury Department. It was under 414 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: the Bush administration, UM under an authority for its support 415 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,919 Speaker 1: for nuclear programs and and support for Iran's nuclear program. Right, 416 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 1: So that was the first. Then the vision of the IRGC, 417 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 1: known as the Kuts Force, which supports terroist activity in 418 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: the region, was sanctioned on the same day under the 419 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: terrorism authority. What does that mean? If you're driving from 420 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: work and you're like, all right, the US is adam 421 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: more sanctions on a wing of Iran's government. What does 422 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,920 Speaker 1: that mean? Right? It means listen it. We've often sanctioned 423 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 1: elements of governments that have posed, that have engaged in 424 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: nefarious behavior, that pose objectionable that do objectionable things. Right, 425 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 1: That's that's not new. Um Brian Hook wasn't certainly wasn't 426 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: wrong in his explanation of the significance of this action 427 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: on Monday, that we have never labeled a division of 428 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 1: a government as a terrorist. Yeah, so that we haven't 429 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: done that. We have certainly sanctioned them under the terrorism authority. 430 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 1: What that means is that in two thousand seven, when 431 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,359 Speaker 1: we did that initially, um, and that was for the 432 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:55,639 Speaker 1: IRGC kuts Force, right, the Trump administration then sanctioned the 433 00:25:55,680 --> 00:26:00,200 Speaker 1: IRGC not only under the Nuclear Authority, but or the 434 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 1: terrorism authority as well. Right. So it means and listen, 435 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:05,920 Speaker 1: I hesitate to say this one sanctions with sanctions because 436 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,360 Speaker 1: I I I always argue that sanctions are not symbolic, 437 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 1: that they have much greater use um. And listing an 438 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,880 Speaker 1: element or a government agency on a foreign Terrorist Organization 439 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: list does have other legal implication implications not just related 440 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: to sanctions. But at the end of the day, this 441 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:24,679 Speaker 1: was about the message. Let's be very clear about her. 442 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: Gar Kamali is CEO of Greenwich Greenwich Media Strategy. She's 443 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:31,440 Speaker 1: a former Treasury spokesperson in the Obama Administration for Terrorism 444 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:34,480 Speaker 1: and Financial Intelligence, as well as a former spokesperson for 445 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:37,719 Speaker 1: the US mission to the u N Switch Gears. Venezuela 446 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, okay, I mean it's Wang who when is 447 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: I don't even I can you get the question out 448 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: about whether, because how do you now sanction Venezuela while 449 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 1: we're recognizing Panguido? I mean, and Medoro is just like 450 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: clinging around. I mean, why do you make this is 451 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,399 Speaker 1: such a broad question. But what additional sanctions for a 452 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: more precise question, Kevin's really when more precise sanctions against 453 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 1: Venezuela hurt or help the situation in Venezuela. So Venezuela 454 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:12,920 Speaker 1: is an interesting case study, especially when you get to 455 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: the question of backlash on US businesses. But let's let's 456 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: get to that after. So when it comes to the 457 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: role of sanctions in Venezuela, the issue is that the 458 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: U S policy towards Venezuela is aimed at supporting Guido, 459 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 1: supporting an end goal of free and fair elections. This, 460 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 1: this policy, not only sanctions. Sanctions has to be part 461 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 1: and parcels of a broader strategy. Um. And when it 462 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:40,359 Speaker 1: comes to Venezuela, I certainly hope that it is. I 463 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: think that it is. Um. You know that one is 464 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 1: about regime change, right. We want President Nicolas Monduro to 465 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 1: step down, we don't recognize him as a legitimate leader. 466 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:54,119 Speaker 1: He's right, and you know absolutely, and I think bigger 467 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 1: Nancy Pelosi doesn't. Well, it's almost sixty countries have recognized 468 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:03,439 Speaker 1: Guido as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, and most of them, 469 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: including us, with the condition that he pursued free and 470 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,919 Speaker 1: fair elections. Right. The sanctions are there to help push 471 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 1: that along, but it's a situation that is already unfolding 472 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 1: in Venezuela. Whither without our sanctions. We're diving into the 473 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:21,200 Speaker 1: geopolitics of sanctions in Venezuela and Iran. A very foreign 474 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,480 Speaker 1: policy driven hour today, a special episode of Sound On 475 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:27,880 Speaker 1: because of our exclusive interview with Brian Hook, special representative 476 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: for Iran and a senior policy advisor to UH the 477 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 1: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Coming up, we're getting back 478 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: to domestic politics and that remarkable hearing of the top 479 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: banking CEOs. I'm gonna play for you my interview coming 480 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: up with House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Nancy Pelosi. You 481 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 1: can download the Sound On podcast on Apple iTunes, at 482 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 1: Bloomberg dot com or by downloading the Bloomberg Business app. 483 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: Check us out on radio dot Com, I Heart Radio 484 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: and Spotify. I m F Week, I m F week 485 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 1: World Bank. David malpas Us his first comments, everybody's in town. 486 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 1: We are in the middle of it all. I'm Kevin 487 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 1: CURRELLI you're listening to Bloomberg. This is Sound On with 488 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:16,120 Speaker 1: Kevins relate on Bloomberg one and one point seven of 489 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 1: m h D two Baltimore. Big day for big banks, 490 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 1: the largest convening of financial c e O s in 491 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 1: Congress since the Great Recession. I was at that hearing 492 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: in the House Rayburn Building. What a four hours hours? 493 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:36,400 Speaker 1: What the past twenty four hours between in Rayburn for 494 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 1: the House Financial Services Committee? Let of course by Chairwoman 495 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:42,959 Speaker 1: Maxine Waters. Take a listen to what I interviewed her 496 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 1: about earlier today. Here's the chairwoman of the Financial Services Committee. 497 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 1: I started out this morning asking them about their lines 498 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 1: of business and whether or not they were eliminating lines 499 00:29:55,320 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 1: of business that caused difficult problems in management. Surprise, eliminating 500 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 1: lines of businesses helped them to do better management. And 501 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:06,760 Speaker 1: I wanted that on record. And what do you hope 502 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:09,680 Speaker 1: to come out of this hearing as it moves forward? 503 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 1: Like what is the what is the hope for you 504 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 1: to get to the bottom of this once the hearing 505 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: reps well. My great hope is that the big banks, 506 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:21,240 Speaker 1: who have had the power to influence the Congress for 507 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 1: so many years, will understand it is a new day 508 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:27,240 Speaker 1: and it is a new way, and that they're going 509 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 1: to be held accountable. We're looking at their sizes, We're 510 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 1: looking at their lines of business. We're looking at whether 511 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 1: or not they're lending uh to homeowners who deserve to have, 512 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: you know, a mortgage. We're looking at what they're doing 513 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,920 Speaker 1: for millennials. We're looking at whether or not these banks 514 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: are sent it on just making money for themselves and 515 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: big profits, or whether or not they're gonna use that 516 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: opportunity to help out our communities and with economic development. 517 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 1: And just one more question. I know you literally have 518 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 1: to go in there to gather, but while I'm here 519 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 1: and have you in terms of illuming another potential economic procession, 520 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:06,560 Speaker 1: what steps need to be taken, share women, to prevent 521 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 1: another economic recession? Exactly what we're doing now. Legislators have 522 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 1: to step up to their responsibility and stop being you know, 523 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:20,080 Speaker 1: puppets for the big banks of America and represent the 524 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 1: consumers and I want that to come out of this committee. 525 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: I want them to understand again that we are going 526 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:29,720 Speaker 1: to do oversight, we are going to do investigation, we 527 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:33,960 Speaker 1: are going to represent our consumers. That's House Financial Services 528 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 1: Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California, speaking with 529 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 1: me earlier on Bloomberg Television. It was the first hearing 530 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 1: since two thousand and nine that the CEOs of the 531 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 1: top US banks testified together before Congress. Lawmakers from the 532 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:52,840 Speaker 1: House Financial Services Committee question bank executives on a host 533 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: of different issues, including income inequality, financial stability, and their 534 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 1: ties to politically controversial UH industries and I. And from 535 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 1: the bank's perspective, they were putting out there that they 536 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 1: are stronger than the crash, They were grateful for the 537 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 1: support of the regulators to some extent, taxpayers to a 538 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:18,240 Speaker 1: bigger extent since the two thousand and eight crash, and 539 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 1: that they have raised more capital, that they have tried 540 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:24,200 Speaker 1: to boost their capital, have more access to liquidity and 541 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:27,960 Speaker 1: share access to to a host of different financial services. 542 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:31,800 Speaker 1: But as sign at the times, really an illustration UH 543 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:35,520 Speaker 1: and a moment at data point, should there no one 544 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:38,600 Speaker 1: wants it? But should there be another economic recession as 545 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:43,840 Speaker 1: some keywords some economists are predicting. Really a key data 546 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:47,160 Speaker 1: point in that conversation, and at a time when Democratic 547 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 1: presidential candidates are making the populist issues issues of the day, 548 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 1: a lot of power in that Rayburn House building, Uh, 549 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:03,200 Speaker 1: not just those sitting uh testifying before Congress, but also 550 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 1: including new voices such as the twenty nine year old 551 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 1: from congresswoman freshman congresswoman from New York. Of course I'm 552 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: talking about Congresswoman Alexandria Acasio Cortez. Reverend Jesse Jackson was there. 553 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 1: I asked him if if AOC was being underestimated, and 554 00:33:20,400 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 1: he told me yes, she is. All right, let's switch 555 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:27,080 Speaker 1: back to foreign policy because we've got uh some great 556 00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:33,760 Speaker 1: guests joining us in studio. We have Huggar Camali uh 557 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 1: and my colleague, a legendary your first time on. I'm so, 558 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:42,400 Speaker 1: what did you make of of my big interview with 559 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:45,160 Speaker 1: not my what do you make of the interview with 560 00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 1: Brian Hark? I thought, what was most interesting to me 561 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:51,960 Speaker 1: is what what Brian seemed to want to go out 562 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 1: of his way not to say, which is uh that Um, 563 00:33:56,160 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 1: they really do not want to tip their hand on 564 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:00,920 Speaker 1: on whether they're going to issue new waivers for uh 565 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:05,040 Speaker 1: Iran to export oil. And in part that's because there's 566 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 1: this huge fight going on right now in the administration 567 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 1: where you have the hard liners like Pompeo up against 568 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 1: the harder liners John Bolton and folks at the NSC 569 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:18,880 Speaker 1: who really want to bring uh just absolutely crushed the 570 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:22,960 Speaker 1: Iranian economy, bring oil waivers to zero. And um, you know, 571 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:24,959 Speaker 1: Brian Hook has a lot of other things to think about, 572 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,200 Speaker 1: chiefly the president who does not want oil above seventy 573 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:30,880 Speaker 1: dollars a barrel because of the effect that that may 574 00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:33,040 Speaker 1: have on US gas prices. And right now oil is 575 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 1: at seventy dollars a barrel, so he's got a lot 576 00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:37,759 Speaker 1: on his mind. Nick, you you're being modest because you 577 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 1: broke the story about there's waivers in particular UH and 578 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:43,840 Speaker 1: and and who was going to get access to those waivers? 579 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:46,839 Speaker 1: I mean, he did, wouldn't say one way or the other, 580 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:48,640 Speaker 1: and we're gonna find out on May second. But do 581 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:51,480 Speaker 1: you think what or what did you glean from from 582 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:54,960 Speaker 1: his responses? I think they will give waivers. Um. I 583 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 1: think that definitely will happen. And you know that what 584 00:34:57,760 --> 00:34:59,920 Speaker 1: was interesting though to me about what he said to you. 585 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 1: As he said they're going they are able to accelerate 586 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:05,759 Speaker 1: their path to zero on waivers, So that that kind 587 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:09,040 Speaker 1: of language, what he's doing there is signaling to the 588 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:11,880 Speaker 1: harder liners, to the folks the NFC and and people 589 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:15,320 Speaker 1: like that, that they are doing all they can really 590 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:17,319 Speaker 1: to get around to zero. But you know, we've still 591 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:19,840 Speaker 1: got a couple of weeks before before he has to 592 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:22,800 Speaker 1: make that decision. So so while he wants to appease 593 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 1: those guys, he's also got to make sure the oil 594 00:35:24,719 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 1: market remains calm because what happened last time before the 595 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:30,000 Speaker 1: waivers was they were really previewing that they were going 596 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:32,120 Speaker 1: to go to zero and the oil market spiked. That 597 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:34,560 Speaker 1: created a lot of panic. They've learned their lessons now 598 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:37,319 Speaker 1: he's being very cautious. He does not want to tip 599 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:39,719 Speaker 1: his hand ahead of a second. Nick Wadhams, a State 600 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:42,880 Speaker 1: Department reporter for Bloomberg News. UH, really the go to 601 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 1: I'm not even saying this, like the go to State 602 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 1: Department reporter on the beat. Huggar Komali is CEO of 603 00:35:48,719 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 1: Greenwich Media Strategies, worked in the Obama administration at the 604 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:56,040 Speaker 1: State Department. Uh and was always butchered this other title 605 00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:58,759 Speaker 1: on your resume, Haggard, and I apologize, but the spokeswoman 606 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: for the U US and Void to the U n Yes, 607 00:36:02,239 --> 00:36:05,040 Speaker 1: So I was at this spokesperson for Terrorism and Financial 608 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:08,920 Speaker 1: Challenges at Treasury and spokesperson and constrector at the US 609 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:11,120 Speaker 1: Mission to the United Nations. I want to talk Venezuela 610 00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:12,840 Speaker 1: and I want to watch you too, kind of. So 611 00:36:13,080 --> 00:36:15,239 Speaker 1: in terms of Venezuela, what are you going to be 612 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:16,840 Speaker 1: looking for? We only have about two minutes lapt but 613 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:18,399 Speaker 1: what are you going to be looking for? For next 614 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:21,200 Speaker 1: steps for US? And that as well well, I could 615 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:24,200 Speaker 1: see I could see some additional sanctions. But sanctions, as 616 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:25,840 Speaker 1: we know, are not the silver bullet, right, I mean, 617 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:27,560 Speaker 1: they have to be part and parcel of a broader 618 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:30,319 Speaker 1: policy strategy. And so I think the next step really, 619 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:33,040 Speaker 1: I mean the sanctions as far I've been strong, especially Pavesa, 620 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:36,239 Speaker 1: they need to be now focused on rallying the other 621 00:36:36,719 --> 00:36:40,880 Speaker 1: foreign partners to increase pressure on Maduro. My big question 622 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:43,840 Speaker 1: also is that that the administration when it when it 623 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:47,520 Speaker 1: came out and recognized the interim president Janguido, it seemed 624 00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:49,320 Speaker 1: like they thought this was all going to unravel in 625 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:52,320 Speaker 1: Moduro was going to come out very quickly, but that 626 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:54,879 Speaker 1: was in January. We're now in April. Do you get 627 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 1: the sense that like this hasn't happened as quickly as 628 00:36:57,160 --> 00:36:59,879 Speaker 1: they wanted, you know, probably on their on their watch. 629 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:02,120 Speaker 1: But I can tell you I handled Syria at the 630 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:04,200 Speaker 1: National Security Council at the beginning of the Arab Spring, 631 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:06,600 Speaker 1: and I can tell you that the assumption they have, 632 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:08,960 Speaker 1: this assumption that the military was going to defect and 633 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:10,879 Speaker 1: that it would be mass and that it would under 634 00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:13,920 Speaker 1: mine Maduro, just as it had from a Barak in Egypt. 635 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:17,200 Speaker 1: Having handled Syria and making that same false assumption when 636 00:37:17,239 --> 00:37:19,080 Speaker 1: we were at the White House, I can tell you 637 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:21,520 Speaker 1: that they may assume that it's going to go fast, 638 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:24,520 Speaker 1: but these things take years, and it's normal for it 639 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:26,520 Speaker 1: to take years. It's also normal for the military not 640 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:29,320 Speaker 1: to defect on masks, So you're not worried about that, 641 00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:32,839 Speaker 1: like time horizon seeming to slip, because that's just how 642 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:34,680 Speaker 1: it goes. To me, it seems normal. All right, We're 643 00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:36,320 Speaker 1: gonna have to leave it there. It's I M f Or. 644 00:37:36,360 --> 00:37:39,759 Speaker 1: Thanks to Nick Wadham's the State Department reporter for Bloomberg News, 645 00:37:39,800 --> 00:37:41,800 Speaker 1: and of course to Huggard Camali, front of the program, 646 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:45,560 Speaker 1: former Treasury official in the Obama administrations, and to Brian 647 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:49,920 Speaker 1: hook A, the senior advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. 648 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 1: Happy I m F week, Tom Keane isn't route to 649 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:55,320 Speaker 1: d C. I'll be on with them tomorrow morning on 650 00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:58,840 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Surveillance. You can download the sound on podcasts on 651 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:02,160 Speaker 1: Apple iTunes. Check us out on Spotify radio dot com 652 00:38:02,239 --> 00:38:04,839 Speaker 1: and I heart Radio and the Bloomberg Business app. I'm 653 00:38:04,960 --> 00:38:06,759 Speaker 1: Kevin SURRELLI you're listening to Bloomberg