US National Intelligence Director: Iran Seeks to Preserve Nuclear Agreement

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

According to the Associated Press news agency, Dan Coats, who appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee for a question-and-answer session on global threats, added: “Tehran’s logic is to stick to the agreement, benefit from the removal of US sanctions, and preserve some of its nuclear capabilities.”

According to him, this agreement has made the time required for Iran to produce sufficient material for nuclear weapons longer.

Coats, referring to the Barack Obama administration’s estimates, said this timeline has increased from a few months to one year.

The US National Intelligence Director also emphasized that the nuclear agreement has improved transparency in Iran’s atomic activities.

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

Iran and six world powers reached an agreement in Vienna, Austria in June 2015, which became known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA. Under this agreement, Tehran suspended many of its nuclear activities, and in return, paralyzing international sanctions against Tehran were lifted or suspended.

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

However, Tehran has consistently complained about the slowness of banking transactions and relations 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 deal with Iran.

Cyber Warfare of Russia, China, and Iran

On the other hand, he accused Russia and other countries including China, North Korea, and Iran of using cyber warfare to strike against the United States and its allies, a process that will continue in the future.

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

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

In 2013, an Iranian hacker was able to access the industrial control system of an American dam. In 2014, a cyber attack was also carried out by Iran to erase data from an American casino.

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

Security Situation in Afghanistan

Dan Coats, in another section of his remarks, referred to the security situation in Afghanistan and said that the security situation in this country will worsen and the Taliban group will achieve greater victories, particularly in rural areas.

According to the US National Intelligence Director, the performance of Afghanistan’s national security forces in fighting insurgents will deteriorate due to weak military leadership, desertion, and battlefield casualties.

He emphasized that the Taliban group has effectively managed its transition during the past two years following the death of Mulla Muhammad Omar, its former leader. Mr. Coats identified the branch of the Islamic State group or ISIS in Afghanistan as only a threat with a lower degree of importance for stability in Afghanistan.

Source: Radio Farda