Trump Describes U.S. Intelligence Agencies' Assessment of Iran as Naive

The President of the United States criticized the assessment of 16 U.S. intelligence agencies regarding Iran, stating that they are 'naive and foolish' about the threat posed by Iran and are making 'mistakes.' On Wednesday, February 10, Donald Trump tweeted about a report from U.S. security agencies that suggested 'perhaps the leaders of these agencies should go back to school.' He added, 'It seems that when it comes to the danger of Iran, the intelligence community is passive and simple. They are wrong.' Although the U.S. President has previously expressed anger towards U.S. intelligence agencies, this is the first time he has publicly criticized his own security apparatus. In one of his tweets on Wednesday, he wrote, 'When I became President, Iran was causing problems all over the Middle East and beyond. Since the withdrawal from the horrible nuclear deal with Iran, they have changed a lot but remain a potential source of danger and conflict.' He further stated, 'They are testing missiles (last week) and more, and are approaching the brink. Their economy is collapsing, the only thing that will cause them to retreat. Be careful about Iran. Maybe the intelligence agencies should go back to school!' On February 9, U.S. intelligence agencies provided a new assessment of global threats to the Senate Intelligence Committee, stating that Tehran 'is not currently pursuing key activities related to the development of nuclear weapons,' but still considers Iran's missile program a threat to the Middle East as of 2019. Gina Haspel, the CIA director, said in this meeting that Iran has adhered to its commitments under the nuclear deal despite the U.S. withdrawal. She stated, 'They are currently technically compliant [with the nuclear deal].' Dan Coats, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, also noted that Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal has extended the time needed to produce materials required for building a nuclear weapon from a few months to about a year. The report from U.S. intelligence agencies contradicts the U.S. President's assessment of the nuclear threat from Iran, which was one of his reasons for withdrawing from the nuclear deal in May of this year. U.S. intelligence agencies also expressed doubts about Trump's goal of denuclearizing North Korea, stating that it is unlikely that the country will completely eliminate its nuclear arsenal. On Wednesday, Trump reacted to this part of the report, emphasizing that relations between North Korea and the U.S. 'are at their best ever.' He pointed out that the cessation of missile tests by Pyongyang, the return of the remains of some American soldiers, and the release of Americans are signs of progress. Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, committed to pursuing denuclearization last year after meeting with the U.S. President. Leaders of the two countries are expected to meet again in February. Another section of the U.S. intelligence report addressed Russian interference in U.S. elections, stating that Russia and other countries may attempt to influence the 2020 presidential election using social media. The report adds, 'Our enemies and strategic competitors are likely to see the 2020 election as an opportunity to advance their objectives. Our prediction is that they will enhance their capabilities and leverage each other's experiences. Therefore, the nature of threats in 2020 and subsequent elections will be different.' Russia is accused of interfering in the 2016 election in favor of Trump, an accusation that both Moscow and the U.S. President have denied. Currently, Robert Mueller, the special counsel, is investigating potential collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia.