The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, stated that “Hizbollah has been Iran’s favourite child… and it’s a model that they try to replicate around the Middle East”. “We are doing, of course, everything we can to deter any shipments of weapons or illegal goods”, he continued, adding that “what we’ve been very pleased with is the fact that Hizbollah is struggling financially…our goal is for that to continue as long as possible”. Hook went on to argue that “we very much support Lebanese sovereignty and independence. Iran…would like to see a Lebanon that they dominate”.