Latest news with #ex-CIA
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Terrible situation...': President Trump predicts Gaza-Israel ceasefire 'within next week'
'Terrible situation...': President Trump predicts Gaza-Israel ceasefire 'within next week' Trump again says it would be good if US controlled Gaza 'Anything could happen': Trump on Iran-Israel conflict | Is US President hinting at last-minute strike 'Anything could happen': Trump on Iran-Israel conflict | Is US President hinting at last-minute strike 'Bad day for Iran..': Trump says Iran would be in 'great danger' if direct talks fail 'I might tell you something good': Trump hints at Iran nuclear deal breakthrough 'next two days' Netanyahu lays out conditions to end Gaza war, prepared for temporary truce Israel-Iran war: 'Trump will give Netanyahu a blank check to strike Iranian regime', ex-CIA chief reveals
Jordan News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Jordan News
Wall Street Journal: Disputes Over Leaked Intelligence Report on Iran Deepen Uncertainty About Trump's Claimed Achievements
The Wall Street Journal reported that ongoing controversy surrounding leaked U.S. intelligence about an airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities has added to the ambiguity surrounding former President Donald Trump's claims of success, particularly regarding whether Iran had transferred its enriched uranium stockpile before the strike. اضافة اعلان In the report authored by Michael Gordon, Dustin Volz, and Lara Seligman, the paper notes that Trump's assertions about crippling and completely destroying Iran's nuclear program contradict leaked intelligence, which suggests the program was only set back by a few months, not years or permanently. However, the CIA later stated that Iran's nuclear program suffered significant damage. The challenge, it said, lies in assessing the full extent of that damage—something only international inspectors on the ground can determine. On Wednesday, Trump doubled down on his criticism of the intelligence leaks, insisting that the U.S. military had severely crippled Iran's nuclear ambitions and dismissing reports that the program was only delayed for a short period. The newspaper noted that this dispute over the extent of damage will likely trouble intelligence analysts and experts for months, as they work to determine the full impact of the U.S. bombing campaign. Although there is substantial evidence of damage from the U.S. deployment of bunker-busting bombs by B-2 stealth bombers on the Natanz and Fordow nuclear facilities last weekend, the actual status of Iran's program remains unclear without access for international inspectors. Charles Duelfer, a former U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq and ex-CIA assessment director, said, 'Damage assessment from afar is always difficult. That's why people prefer having inspectors on the ground.' At the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump stood by his initial claim that the Iranian program had been 'wiped out,' and dismissed the CIA's preliminary findings as inconclusive. A rare Pentagon press conference, announced by Trump on social media, is expected Thursday to address the matter. CIA Director John Ratcliffe issued a statement backing Trump's remarks but provided no additional details, stating only that there is reliable intelligence indicating major destruction resulting from the recent strikes. According to Ratcliffe, 'New intelligence from a historically reliable source indicates that many of Iran's key nuclear facilities were destroyed, and rebuilding them would take years.' However, neither the White House nor the CIA addressed what happened to Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium—whether it was moved prior to the strike. Vice President J.D. Vance hinted in a Sunday interview with ABC News that Iran may still possess quantities of hidden enriched uranium. He stated, 'In the coming weeks, we will work to ensure this fuel is monitored properly. That will be one of the topics discussed with the Iranians.' Before the Israeli-American operation, Iran was believed to have enough fissile material for approximately 10 nuclear weapons. But Vance argued that without operational enrichment facilities, the uranium would be useless to Iran. The Journal cited a source familiar with the leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, noting that the document clearly states in its opening paragraph that it was a preliminary assessment based on data available within 24 hours of the strike and not coordinated with other intelligence agencies. A full damage assessment could take days or weeks. A DIA official told the paper that the report was 'preliminary and low-confidence—not a final judgment.' Experts and former officials say one of the key challenges in assessing the strike's impact is determining whether Iran retains nuclear capabilities that could support weapons development. There is also uncertainty about the extent of damage to the Fordow uranium enrichment facility. Another unresolved question is whether Iran moved its enriched uranium stockpile before the attack or recovered it afterward. There is also speculation that Iran may have undisclosed centrifuge stockpiles or nuclear equipment at undisclosed sites. If any part of the program survived, experts warn, Tehran may now be more determined than ever to pursue nuclear weapons. Former senior U.S. official Robert Einhorn, who worked on non-proliferation under the Obama administration, stated: 'The destructive effect of the U.S. and Israeli military attacks may have only strengthened Iran's resolve to acquire nuclear weapons and bolstered hardliners supporting militarization.' Einhorn also raised the unresolved question of whether the U.S. and IAEA can be confident that none of Iran's enriched uranium was transferred to secret locations. According to people familiar with the matter, the DIA's initial classified report concluded that the strikes had only delayed Iran's nuclear ambitions by a few months. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday that the FBI is investigating the leak of the intelligence report to the media. The Journal concluded that this disagreement reflects Trump's long-standing tensions with parts of the intelligence community. In the past, he rejected consensus findings—such as those concluding that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help his campaign. This time, the conflict centers around Trump's skepticism toward a preliminary intelligence assessment of a strike he ordered—something analysts say is difficult to evaluate without further information. Typically, intelligence agencies share early-stage, low-confidence assessments across the intelligence community. These are then vetted by analysts, often including signal intelligence or foreign communications intercepted by the NSA. To strengthen conclusions, DIA analysts are now reviewing surveillance data for any Iranian internal discussions about the extent of the damage. Still, intelligence gathering and drawing a comprehensive picture of the U.S. airstrike's impact is a difficult and slow process. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Congress are demanding intelligence briefings on the Israeli-American attacks, even as the White House considers limiting information sharing in response to the DIA leak. (Agencies)
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Ex-CIA analyst who admitted leaking docs about Israel strike on Iran gets 37 months in prison
An ex-CIA analyst was sentenced to more than three years in prison Wednesday for leaking top-secret documents about Israel's plans to retaliate against Iran last year. Asif William Rahman, 34, had pleaded guilty in January to two counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information after he was arrested for absconding with records from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency last October that indicated Israel was planning to launch airstrikes in response to a massive Iranian missile attack. Rahman, who had been a CIA employee since 2016 and had access to top secret documents, leaked the stolen information on social media platforms — forcing Israel to delay its attack. Advertisement He was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison by US District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles, which is less than the government had demanded. 3 Rahman was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison. AP 'Asif Rahman violated his position of trust by illegally accessing, removing, and transmitting Top Secret documents vital to the national security of the United States and its allies,' US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Siebert said in a statement. Advertisement 'The urgency with which Mr. Rahman was identified, arrested, charged, and prosecuted is a testament to the commitment and professionalism of the investigators and prosecutors who brought him to justice. 'This case should serve as a stern warning to those who choose to place their own goals over their allegiance to our nation.' Rahman was working in the US Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Oct. 17, 2024, when he sneaked the documents out in his backpack, brought them to his home, photographed them and then transmitted them to other individuals, before destroying evidence of his actions, according to the Justice Department. The top-secret documents appeared on the 'Middle East Spectator' Telegram channel the following day and 'appeared publicly on multiple social media platforms, complete with the classification ranking,' prosecutors said. Advertisement The documents laid out intelligence gathered from satellite images of an Israeli base taken on Oct. 15 and 16. The breach forced Israeli officials to postpone their attack until Oct. 26. 3 The ex-CIA employee pleaded guilty in January to leaking classified information. NurPhoto via Getty Images 3 Rahman leaked documents related to Israel's plans to launch airstrikes against Iran. WAEL HAMZEH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Advertisement Rahman 'repeatedly accessed and printed classified National Defense Information' up until his arrest in November of 2024, according to the DOJ. In the spring of 2024, when he was working in Virginia as a CIA analyst, he disclosed a batch of five secret and top-secret documents, making copies and giving them to people who weren't allowed to see them. And in the fall of 2024, he leaked another 10 classified documents. 'I fully accept responsibility for my conduct last year,' Rahman said in court Wednesday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. 'There was no excuse for my actions.' Rahman's attorneys blamed his actions on 'family-related grief' and traumatic assignment in Iraq, compounded by Israel's war against Hamas.
Metro
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Ex-CIA chief reveals where in Europe he thinks Putin will invade next
An ex-CIA chief has delivered a chilling forecast on Vladimir Putin's next invasion target if his war in Ukraine drags on. David Petraeus, a retired US Army general who served as a commander in both Iraq and Afghanistan, sounded the alarm that Russia is preparing to invade a Nato nation next. He revealed that the Kremlin could launch an incursion into the Baltics to test whether the West would back down before bearing the cost – or as a precursor to a wider offensive. Lithuania, the veteran warned, is particularly exposed to Putin's quest to resurrect the Soviet empire. Speaking at the Policy Exchange think-tank in London, Petraeus said: 'Once [Ukraine is] done, you are going to see Russians focus on one of the Baltic states. 'Lithuania has featured prominently in Putin's speeches – and we should be listening. 'We should have listened a lot more when he answered that question about what was the worst geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century… and his response was the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 'That gives you an insight into Putin's grievance-filled revisionist history.' Throughout Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Baltics have been warned about getting caught in the crosshairs. Lithuania's government is also taking the threat seriously – the government reinstated conscription in 2015, and in January, it committed to spending between 5% and 6% of its GDP on defence annually until at least 2030. Focusing on the current US administration and its impact on the war, the general insisted that Donald Trump had given Putin way too many 'second chances' and indulged behaviour that was 'absolutely crazy'. He said that such indulgence has weakened the West's moral clarity and emboldened the dictator. Russia's eventual aim, Petraeus said, was to topple Volodymyr Zelensky in order to 'install a puppet leader and to control all of Ukraine'. In his speech, the general also criticised the former Biden administration for repeatedly arming Ukraine 'too little, too late'. More Trending Whether it was F-16 supersonic fighter jets, long-range rocket systems or cluster munitions, the White House has been locked in a cycle of hesitation followed by concession. Petraeus stressed: 'It was very unhelpful for the Ukrainians to go through the process, where each time they would ask for it [weapons], but be told no or a maybe and then eventually get it – instead of the swift and decisive action which would have been so much more helpful. 'The bottom line is that we should have done so much for the Ukrainians that they could change the dynamic on the battlefield to one that showed Moscow they can not achieve additional gains… 'If we want to get Russia negotiating seriously, they have to be convinced that they cannot achieve incremental gains.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
Scottish Sun
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Putin will attack Lithuania next if he beats Ukraine, former CIA boss warns as Zelensky slams Vlad for ‘stalling talks'
He took aim at the US President for giving the Russian despot too many second chances VLAD ATTACK Putin will attack Lithuania next if he beats Ukraine, former CIA boss warns as Zelensky slams Vlad for 'stalling talks' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VLADIMIR Putin will launch an assault on Lithuania next if he conquers Ukraine, an ex-CIA boss has warned. The caution comes as Zelensky slammed the Russian despot for "stalling peace talks" following his dismal attempts to get to the negotiating table. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Ukraine has accused Russia of 'stalling' peace' talks after Putin's failed attempts to get to the negotiating table Credit: Reuters 7 An ex-CIA boss has warned global leaders of a potential attack on Lithuania Credit: Getty David Petraus, a retired US general and director of the CIA, warned an attack on the Baltic state would not be an isolated event but part of a longer-term plan to test the West. Speaking at the Policy Exchange Think-Tank in London, Petraeus said Lithuania has "featured prominently" in Putin's speeches meaning he might turn on the NATO state for his next assault. After mad Vlad has installed a "puppet leader to control all of Ukraine" there's a strong chance he will turn his "focus on one of the Baltic states," he added. Taking aim at Trump, he said the US had dithered too much on "individual decisions" and was giving the Russian president too many second chances - causing immeasurable losses for Ukraine. He said: "What we've seen is three incidences where the US President has threatened that in two weeks we'll have to take a different approach. "We'll see this time what actually happens. The US also temporised far too long over individual decisions such as M1 [Abrams] tanks. "A blind man on a dark night could see it had to be the F-16 (a multi- role fighter aircraft)." Ukraine responded yesterday saying: "The Russians' fear of sending their 'memorandum' to Ukraine suggests that it is likely filled with unrealistic ultimatums, and they are afraid of revealing that they are stalling the peace process." His comments come after Trump issued Vlad with a two-week deadline for a ceasefire following Russia's deadly attack on Ukraine earlier this week. Trump said in the Oval Office on Wednesday: 'I'm very disappointed at what happened a couple of nights now where people were killed in the middle of what you would call a negotiation." He added: 'When I see rockets being shot into cities, that's no good. We're not going to allow it.' Trump gives Putin two-week ceasefire DEADLINE - but can talks stop bloodbath? When asked if Putin really wants to end the war, Trump replied: "I can't tell you that, but I'll let you know in about two weeks. "Within two weeks. We're gonna find out whether or not he's tapping us along or not. "And if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently." One of the largest stumbling blocks which is delaying any peace deal is said to be over Putin's desire to control his former Soviet states and keep them away from Nato. 7 David Petraeus called Trump out on giving Putin too many second chances Credit: Reuters 7 The Russian despot says he wants assurance from NATO that it will stop expanding into countries eastward Credit: AFP 7 This includes Ukraine themselves with the Kremlin always saying Kyiv gaining access to the group is a complete no go under any circumstances. Kyiv has repeatedly said that Moscow should have no say in its sovereign right to pursue Nato membership however. He declared he will only call off the war in Ukraine if the West vows to keep its hands off Russia's prized former Soviet states. Putin even demanded he got the assurances in writing. The Russian president said he wants a "written" pledge from Western leaders to stop Nato's expansion to countries eastward, top Russian officials revealed to Reuters. The eastward expansion refers to Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and other former Soviet republics. Putin is reportedly preparing for a major push to take more land in the north east. Military analysts believe he is trying to press home his advantage and capture more Ukrainian land. They warn that Putin only has a "four-month window" to get a breakthrough in Ukraine this year. And this could be the beginning of Russia's summer offensive targeting the border city of Kharkiv - the "fortress" city of Ukraine which put up the maximum resistance at the start of the invasion. Reacting to the reports, German Chancellor Freidrich Merz predicted that peace was still a long way off. He said: "Wars typically end because of economic or military exhaustion on one side or on both sides and in this war we are obviously still far from reaching that [situation]. "So we may have to prepare for a longer duration." 7 Petraeus said Putin had often mentioned Lithuania in his speeches Credit: Getty
