Clapper: Iran Still Tops List of State Sponsors of Terrorism

The Director of National Intelligence of the United States, in an annual assessment of security threats facing the country, announced that Iran remains at the top of the list of state sponsors of terrorism. He also warned of an increase in terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. According to the Associated Press, James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, stated on Tuesday, February 9, in a statement prepared for the Senate Armed Services Committee, that Iran is still at the top of the list of state sponsors of terrorism, that al-Qaeda-affiliated groups remain active, and that threats from cyber attacks by China, Russia, and North Korea will continue. In another part of his remarks, published by 'Voice of America', he emphasized that the comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran has provided 'much greater transparency' regarding the nature of Iran's nuclear program, stating, 'Tehran has adhered to its commitments under the agreement, and with its implementation last month, the process of lifting sanctions against this country has also begun.' Clapper continued, 'However, Iran continues to support terrorism and is a factor in regional instability through its support for its proxy groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and has played a major role in the crises in Syria and Yemen since 2015.' According to him, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran still considers the United States a threat to itself, and no signs of change in this stance have been observed. The Director of National Intelligence also stated that 'radical Islamist groups will continue to attack U.S. interests abroad, and attacks carried out by terrorists residing in the U.S. will be the biggest threat from these groups within the country.' He added, 'The perception that terrorist attacks by radical Islamists residing in Europe and the U.S., such as those in Chattanooga or San Bernardino, have been successful may encourage others to carry out similar opportunistic attacks. These attacks occur with little or no warning and may reduce our ability to detect the planning and preparedness of terrorists.' Clapper emphasized that the involvement of the group known as the Islamic State in domestic terrorist attacks will likely continue due to the advanced media methods of this group and without direct communication or guidance from its leadership. The Director of National Intelligence stated in the introduction of his annual report to Congress on Tuesday that the increasing complexity of networks that radical Islamists join and the diversity and multiplicity of tools and methods they use for their attacks will 'increase the vulnerability of U.S. civilian infrastructure and government systems.' The National Intelligence Office provides a comprehensive assessment of security threats to Congress every year based on information collected from all U.S. security agencies. It appears that the most significant new point in this year's report is the emphasis on the continuation and increase of attacks by radical Islamists residing in the country, inspired by the growth of the 'Islamic State' group. Clapper also reported that North Korea has developed its uranium enrichment facilities and reactivated its plutonium production reactor, which could produce the necessary nuclear materials for building nuclear weapons within weeks or months. He noted North Korea's announcement in 2013 regarding the reconstruction and operation of its nuclear facilities, stating that North Korea has developed its uranium enrichment facilities in 'Yongbyon' and has activated the plutonium production reactor there. U.S. nuclear experts estimate that North Korea currently possesses 10 nuclear bombs, a number that could increase to between 20 and 100 bombs by 2020. North Korea conducted a missile test on February 7, which drew global condemnation.