Trump's pick for Pentagon Mideast policy chief signals Iran strategy shift
Trump fired his longtime Iran envoy, Brian Hook, and revoked the security clearance of former national security adviser John Bolton. His pick to be the Pentagon’s next Middle East policy chief, Michael DiMino, has a history of opposing the idea of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has named Michael P. DiMino, a former CIA counterterrorism officer and advocate of a restrained approach to Iran, as the Pentagon’s next policy chief for the Middle East.
DiMino was sworn in alongside 31 other top officials at the Pentagon on Monday, the department announced.
Until recently, DiMino was a fellow at Defense Priorities, a Koch-funded think tank advocating restraint in engaging the US military in foreign policy. He has also advised members of Congress and the Pentagon’s Joint Staff, as well as US European Command on the Russian war in Ukraine.
Why it matters: DiMino is something of a surprise pick for the next deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East. The former CIA military analyst differs from other Trump picks in his criticism of Israel’s policies in the region.
