Trump Push to Scrap Iran Deal Risks ‘Corrupting’ U.S. Intel Process

Posted: August 28th, 2017

By David S. Cohen

Former Cipher Brief Expert David S. Cohen is currently serving as Deputy Director, CIA. Cohen previously served as Deputy Director, CIA from 2015 to 2017. Cohen has also served in the Treasury Department as Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (2011-2015) and Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing (2009-2011). In those roles, Cohen oversaw Treasury’s financial sanctions programs, including the efforts against Iran, Russia and terrorist financing, as well as Treasury’s domestic and international anti-money laundering efforts.

President Donald Trump has made it clear that he thinks the international accord to reign in Iran’s nuclear program was the “worst deal ever.” And he has twice reluctantly certified that Iran is in compliance. But The Guardian is now reporting that the White House is pressuring intelligence officials to find that Iran is in violation of the 2015 nuclear deal, although no evidence of violation has been reported. The deal, signed by the U.S., Iran, and five other countries, has caused Iran to significantly reduce its nuclear program, in exchange for sanctions relief.

President Trump says he expects to declare Iran non-compliant by mid-October, the next time he is required to sign off on certification of the deal – the President, mandated by Congress, has to give his certification every 90 days.

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