US President Donald Trump said Washington has two different sets of intelligence assessments on Iran, declining to disclose details of one of them amid growing concerns over potential Iranian attacks on American personnel and speculation about a resumption of hostilities.
Trump made the remarks when asked about an intelligence warning that Iran had intensified efforts to target US personnel and that plots against American citizens had reached advanced stages.
“I have two very different sets," Trump said, without elaborating on the other reports.
“We have very advanced sets of intelligence on Iran. Some has been declassified and some hasn’t," he added, asserting that the United States was “doing very well" with Iran.
Trump’s comments came after Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned that Tehran had substantially increased efforts to target American personnel. In a memo dated October 23 and sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Clayton said Iranian plots against US citizens had reached “advanced stages" in West Asia and other countries. The memo was also copied to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, according to Reuters.
Is US Preparing For Fresh Strikes On Iran?
Trump’s remarks come amid growing concerns that the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran could resume after a pause in hostilities. The US President has hinted that US forces could launch further strikes after the November 3 midterm elections.
Washington has reportedly sent a third aircraft carrier strike group and around 10,000 additional sailors and Marines towards the Persian Gulf, giving military commanders more options should Trump decide to restart military operations.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also made an unannounced visit to Israel last week, where he met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The visit came days before Netanyahu faces a crucial re-election contest
Meanwhile, US military installations in the region have faced Iranian counterstrikes, prompting reported reductions in staffing at some bases. The US State Department has also ordered some diplomats and their families to leave Saudi Arabia amid heightened security concerns.
Iran Warns A New War Would Not Change Its Position
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that renewed fighting with the United States and Israel would not alter Tehran’s policies, stressing that his country remained focused on the period beyond the conflict
“Recently, there has been talk of a new war, but I am already thinking about the post-war period. Whether there is war or not, our policies remain the same," Araghchi said during a televised event in Tehran.
He warned that previous military campaigns had not changed Iran’s position and said another round of fighting would not produce a different outcome.
“If they want to try again, they know they will achieve no different outcome from those of the past," he added.
Source: News18