Pompeo and Hook protection program extended due to fear of Iran

In announcing the extension of protection for Mike Pompeo and Brian Hook, the US State Department said there were "serious" threats against the two former US officials. The Associated Press news agency reported in an exclusive report that the US Democratic government has extended the protection program for two Republican Trump administration officials for another term. According to American media, the Foreign Ministry sent a note to Congress at the end of December and said that due to the continuation of “serious and credible threats” against former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his senior adviser Brian Hook and the Trump administration’s special representative for Iran affairs, their protection was extended. Richard Verma, Antony Blinken's undersecretary of state for management, signed memoranda sent to the US Congress to protect the two former administration members. This is the 16th time the State Department has extended Hook's protection since he left office in January 2021 and the 13th time Pompeo's protection has been extended. Under existing US protocols, Pompeo was automatically subject to security measures for several months after leaving office because he was a cabinet minister, but this did not apply to Hook. In March 2022, the Associated Press reported that the US State Department was paying more than $2 million a month to provide 24-hour security for Pompeo and Hook. Last year, when publishing a book, Pompeo admitted that he does not have a normal life and security forces are present next to him, even when he buys eggplants. He, who was involved in the martyrdom of Colonel General Qasem Soleimani, expressed concern for his and Trump's safety and asked the Biden administration to protect them.