Iran International
The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) says Iran has bolstered activities since 2020 that could help it develop nukes, but it is not currently pursuing a bomb.
"Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons development activities that would be necessary to produce a testable nuclear device," ODNI said in its assessment examining Iran's efforts and advancements in its nuclear enrichment program and information related to potential weaponization and delivery systems, which it released on Monday.
The unclassified two-page summary of the assessment, which is dated June 2023, also said Iran continues to message that it would return to full compliance if the United States provided sanctions relief and fulfilled its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, and if the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) closed its safeguards investigations related to three undeclared nuclear sites.
The administration of President Joe Biden has been trying to revive the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from in 2018, imposing draconian sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
There has also been talk of a new version of the JCPOA, but the involvement of the FBI in looking into the conduct of US envoy for Iran, Rob Malley, in the past few months appears to have slowed down such efforts.
According to the ODNI's assessment, Iran produced small quantities of uranium metal enriched up to 20 percent in 2021, which it claims are for the purpose of research and development for a new type of reactor fuel, although the production of uranium metal was prohibited under the JCPOA as a key capability needed to produce nuclear weapons.
Iran has also continued to increase the size and enrichment level of its uranium stockpile beyond JCPOA limits, as well as continuing to exceed JCPOA restrictions on advanced centrifuge research and development and enrichment operations at the deeply buried Fordow facility, which was also prohibited under the JCPOA, the assessment said.
"Iran's ballistic missile programs, which already include the largest inventory of ballistic missiles in the region, continue to pose a threat to countries across the Middle East. Iran has emphasized improving the accuracy, lethality, and reliability of its missiles. Iran's work on space launch vehicles (SLVs)—including its Simorgh—shortens the timeline to an ICBM if it decided to develop one because SLVs and ICBMs use similar technologies," ODNI said.
A fresh batch of European intelligence reports in June suggested that Iran is still carrying out illicit activities towards securing the technology it needs to further develop its nuclear weapons program to the level of testing a bomb. Translations of these reports were first published by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) in June.
These reports, which were prepared by the German, Dutch, and Swedish intelligence organizations, pertain to activities carried out by Iran in 2022.
Some of the data gathered by the Netherlands General and Intelligence Security Service (AVID) suggests that Iran is closer to being able to test its first nuclear bomb given its increasing stockpile of 20 and 60 percent enriched uranium, which could be further enriched to 90 percent, which is required for building a bomb, and deployed more sophisticated centrifuges.
"The AIVD and MIVD [Military Intelligence] succeeded a number of times in preventing Russia and Iran from acquiring Dutch knowledge or technology for their nuclear weapons programs," AVID said in its report.
"The Swedish Security Service can confirm that Iran is conducting security-threatening activities in Sweden and against Swedish interests," Adam Samara, a spokesperson for the Swedish Security Service, told Fox News Digital in an email.
"Examples of these activities are industrial espionage targeting Swedish high-tech industries and unlawful intelligence gathering targeting Swedish higher education institutions. Iran seeks Swedish technology and knowledge that can be used in their nuclear weapons program," he said.
Senator Scott of Florida told Iran International’s Arash Alaei, "I was just in the Middle East, and all I heard about was the menace of Iran."
"While in Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE, all of them were concerned about Iran's actions. I was there when Israel had to eliminate terrorists in Jenin... and when Iranian ships attempted to halt two tankers, but the US Navy intervened. Iran is a threat to the world," he added.
He also criticized the performance of US envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, stating that the last thing the US wants is another nuclear deal with the regime.
Reacting to the controversy surrounding Malley's secret leave of absence and the FBI's investigation into his mishandling of classified information, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) stated that it reflects the entire administration's policy toward Iran, which he believes makes no sense and is nothing short of disastrous.
Malley’s suspension was first reported by Iran International June 29, and formally announced the following day by Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department, calling it "a leave of absence”, adding that his duties would be temporarily assumed by his deputy, Abram Paley. However, it is believed he had been suspended as early as April.
Senator Hawley described the administration's policy on Iran as a "disaster" from day one and said, "The more we know, the worse it gets."
He expressed outrage at the administration's lack of transparency regarding Malley and his efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear accord. Referring to an article by Tehran Times, a publication controlled by the Iranian regime that provided astonishing details about Malley's situation, Senator Hawley criticized the government for not being forthcoming. He said, "You have a totalitarian regime publishing all this information and knowing it, yet your own government won't be honest with us about it." He further stated, "It's ridiculous."
"I feel like I've been lied to... They (the administration) lie to us all the time on various issues, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, China... It's a pattern in this administration."
Republican and sone Democrats have been opposed to President Joe Biden's policy of negotiating with the Islamic Republic to revive the 2015 JCPOA agreement that former President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018. The talks came to a deadlock in September 2022, after 18 months of multilateral diplomacy.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) also criticized Malley for his handling of Iran-related issues, stating, "I don't know the specific details, but I have always believed he was a terrible negotiator... I have never been a fan of his negotiations or their outcomes."
CBS News also confirmed Monday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating Robert Malley, although the matter is not considered criminal.
According to the Tehran Times, Malley was informed by the Diplomatic Security Department on April 21 that his security clearance had been suspended due to his failure to maintain classified documents accurately.
CBS News has also confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating Robert Malley, but the issue is not deemed a criminal matter.
However, a detailed report in Tehran Times about Malley's suspension and investigation has raised questions among former American officials and Iran watchers.
As presidential envoy for Iran, Malley was based at the State Department, his portfolio including both the attempts to resurrect a nuclear agreement with Iran (under the JCPOA), as well as negotiations over at least three American citizens who remain wrongfully detained by Tehran.
His suspension was first reported by Iran International June 29 and formally announced the following day by Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department, calling it "a leave of absence”, adding that his duties would be temporarily assumed by his deputy, Abram Paley. However, it is believed he had been suspended as early as April.
According to the Tehran Times, a pro-regime publication, the exact date of Malley's suspension was April 21, when Malley was informed by the Diplomatic Security Department that due to his not having maintained classified documents, his security clearance was suspended.
The regime publication wrote: “His work-related accesses were cut off at this time. However, to prevent the matter from becoming public, some of his limited and non-critical accesses were maintained, such as his communication with the families of American prisoners in Iran.”
How a pro-regime outlet had such details, of which even Congress had not be informed, is raising serious questions. Frustrated by the lack of information sharing with the congressional committees overseeing the State Department, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Mike McCaul, Republican of Texas, sent a letter setting a July 11 deadline for the department to provide an update.
His letter claimed Congress had been misled about the reason for Malley's absence, which had been attributed to a family health matter. State Department spokesman Miller said in response: “We obviously got the letter from the Chairman; we've been reviewing it and we will be engaging with his office on the matter.”
The Tehran Times went into further detail, claiming that during the first few weeks of Malley’s unpaid leave, when Iran and the US held confidential negotiations in Oman, the US sent Brett McGurk, a member of the National Security Council who is close to Jake Sullivan. “The noteworthy point is that the Americans are trying to present the replacement of McGurk as a positive change and an effort to advance negotiations with Iran, hiding the Malley affair,” they wrote.
Ex-Iran envoy Gabriel Noronha pointed to the article as a worrying sign that sources in Tehran know more about the scandalous affair than Congress itself. Like many other Iran watchers, he highlights the closeness Malley has with key members of the regime. “His family's ties to notorious Iranian propagandists like Trita Parsi should be disqualifying in themselves,” he wrote.
Malley’s suspension has been of grave concern to the Biden administration, risking a controversy at a time which is critical to nuclear negotiations as Iran's uranium enrichment proceeds unhindered.
Alireza Nader from the National Union for Democracy in Iran said the matter risks becoming “a huge national scandal”, the Iran lobby possibly jeopardizing talks moving forward.
The Tehran Times article suggests the future of Malley’s career is bleak, revealing the depth of his connections to the regime: “Malley’s overly close proximity to his non-official Iranian assistants and advisers created the ground for the fall of this experienced diplomat.”