Intelligence community rebukes Trump’s favorite talking points during Senate hearing
North Korea isn't giving up nukes, Iran isn't violating its deal, ISIS isn't defeated, and NATO isn't obsolete. Not to mention Russian meddling, climate change, and the "value" of a shutdown.
In open testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday morning, leaders of the intelligence community knocked down the president’s talking points about ISIS, the nuclear capabilities of Iran and North Korea, and the value of NATO.
CIA Director Gina Haspel confirmed to Sen. Angus King (I-ME) that Iran is not currently violating the terms of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Last May, President Donald Trump claimed without evidence that Iran had violated its terms and withdrew the United States from the agreement.
“At the moment, technically they are in compliance,” said Haspel, before adding that after the United States pulled out of the agreement, Iranian officials have openly talked about reneging on their side of the agreement. The agreement was cosigned by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States), Germany, and the European Union, and it curtailed Iran’s nuclear development in exchange for ending painful sanctions.
“Iranians are considering taking steps that would lessen their adherence to the JCPOA as they seek to pressure [the EU] to come through with the investment and trade benefits that Iran hoped to gain from the deal,” she said.