US Director of National Intelligence: Iran seeks to preserve nuclear deal

The US Director of National Intelligence said on Thursday, May 11, that from the US perspective, Iran is trying to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal. He also accused Tehran of using advanced cyber capabilities to attack the United States.

According to the Associated Press, Don Coats, who was present at the Senate Security Committee meeting for a question-and-answer session on global threats, added: "Tehran's logic is to stick to the agreement, take advantage of the lifting of US sanctions, and maintain some of its nuclear capabilities."

According to him, this agreement has lengthened the time required for Iran to produce enough material to build a nuclear weapon.

Coats, citing estimates from the Obama administration, said the timeline had been extended from a few months to a year.

The US Director of National Intelligence also stated that the nuclear agreement has improved the level of transparency in Iran's nuclear activities.

However, he said the United States does not know whether Iran might suddenly decide to build a nuclear weapon.

Iran and six world powers reached an agreement in Vienna, Austria, in July 2015, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. Under the agreement, Tehran halted many of its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting or suspension of crippling international sanctions against Tehran.

In the year since the implementation of the JCPOA, Iran has been able to increase its oil production to pre-sanctions levels and sign major oil, gas, and industrial contracts with foreign parties.

However, Tehran has always complained about the slowness of banking transactions and connections with the international banking system, and has repeatedly asked the United States and European countries to assure major banks that they will not be targeted by new sanctions if they do business with Iran.

Cyberwar between Russia, China and Iran

On the other hand, he accused Russia and other countries, including China, North Korea, and Iran, of using cyberwarfare to attack the United States and its allies, a trend that will continue in the future.

Coats cited Russia as a threat to US government, military, diplomacy, commerce and critical infrastructure.

He added: "Iran also uses high-tech capabilities in this field."

In 2013, an Iranian hacker managed to break into the industrial control system of an American dam. In 2014, Iran carried out a cyberattack to wipe out the data of an American casino.

The US Director of National Intelligence says that China is targeting the US government and American businesses.

Security situation in Afghanistan

In another part of his speech, Dan Coats referred to the security situation in Afghanistan, saying that the security situation in the country will worsen and the Taliban will achieve more victories, especially in rural areas.

According to the US Director of National Intelligence, the performance of the Afghan National Security Forces in fighting the insurgents will worsen due to weak military leadership, desertion, and battlefield casualties.

He stressed that the Taliban group has effectively transitioned over the past two years since the death of its former leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar. Mr. Coats cited the Islamic State group's Afghanistan branch as only a minor threat to stability in Afghanistan.

Source: Radio Farda