Economics

U.S. Iran Sanctions Envoy Makes Rare Foray to OPEC’s Home Turf

  • Brian Hook is said to have met Saudi oil minister in Vienna
  • Trump’s Iran policy has been a key driver of the oil market

Brian Hook.

Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
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On the eve of the OPEC meeting, the senior U.S. official overseeing sanctions on Iran made a rare foray into the group’s home turf, for a discreet Viennese breakfast with the cartel’s most powerful member.

Brian Hook, the U.S. special representative for Iran, met one-on-one with Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih on Wednesday morning in the Austrian capital, said a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because the talks were private.