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Trump Administration Says Iran Could Exit Syria Amid Pandemic

The State Department’s top official for Iran thinks Russia and Syria see more benefits to a potential Iranian drawdown.

By , a Pentagon and national security reporter at Foreign Policy, and , a diplomacy and national security reporter at Foreign Policy.
US Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, looks on during a briefing at the US Department of State in Washington, DC on January 17.
US Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, looks on during a briefing at the US Department of State in Washington, DC on January 17.
U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook looks on during a briefing at the State Department in Washington on Jan. 17. Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP

The Trump administration believes Iran has growing incentives to pull out of a multibillion-dollar military campaign in Syria as the coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the country, the U.S. State Department’s top official for Iran told Foreign Policy.

Jack Detsch is a Pentagon and national security reporter at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @JackDetsch

Robbie Gramer is a diplomacy and national security reporter at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @RobbieGramer

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