The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, underscored that "the policy of the U.S. is that we are not looking to grant any new oil waivers... the forecasters say that there will be more supply than demand [in 2019]. That gives us better market conditions to accelerate our path to zero imports". Hook also countered the suggestion that U.S. sanctions impacted Iran's population, arguing that "the Iranian people know where to place their blame on their economic troubles, and it's President [Hassan] Rouhani". Iran's diplomatic spokesperson hit back at Hook's comments, maintaining that "the U.S. can no longer achieve its inhumane and sinister goals".