US Government Shares Classified Information on ‘Iran’s Actions’ with Senior Congressional Members

Eight senior representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress were briefed on Thursday, May 16, on classified information regarding Iran’s recent actions and the approach of the Donald Trump administration in this matter.

Several congressional leaders have been unwilling to speak with the media following this meeting.

These representatives, known as members of the “Gang of Eight,” include: leaders of both the Republican and Democratic parties in the Senate and House of Representatives; the top two members of the House Intelligence Committee and the top two members of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Democratic Senator Mark Warner, a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, declined to elaborate on the classified information discussed in the meeting, but said it would be better if more lawmakers were informed of the report.

The Trump administration is scheduled to hold a classified briefing session focused on Iran next week for all members of the US Senate and House of Representatives.

Two informed sources told Politico that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, CIA Director Gina Haspel, and General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to appear separately in classified sessions of the House and Senate beginning next Tuesday.

Following the escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran in recent days and the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf, several congressional members have criticized the lack of information provided on this matter and have called for government briefing sessions on these threats and the administration’s decisions.

US President Donald Trump expressed hope on Thursday that the United States does not go to war with Iran.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration’s actions on the Senate floor. Rubio spoke of specific and “clear” information regarding threats posed by Iran to US forces and interests in the Middle East.

Marco Rubio said: “Iranian forces and their proxy forces in the region are a serious and potential threat to American forces and US civilians in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.”

This Republican senator, while welcoming next week’s briefing, said that doubts about the Trump administration’s assessment of the Iranian threat stem from a lack of information.

Republican Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also said that the White House issued warnings after receiving multiple reports regarding Iranian actions.

Senator Jim Risch further stated that, for example, recent reports in public media have been published regarding the transfer of missiles to boats.

According to the Associated Press, some American lawmakers have accused the Trump administration of “provoking” Iran.

Jim Himes, a Democratic representative and member of the House Intelligence Committee, said in this regard that Iranians moving their weapons is not a new development, and they may have accelerated this process after we sent an aircraft carrier and bombers to the region, which is not surprising.

The US State Department also announced on Wednesday that, in response to threats posed by Iranian proxy forces to US interests, it has ordered “unnecessary” State Department personnel to leave Iraq.

Despite the escalation of rhetoric between Iran and America, officials from both countries emphasized this week that they do not want war.

Source: Radio Farda