The US National Intelligence has removed Iran and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah from its list of “terrorist threats.”
US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper scrapped Iran and Hezbollah from the list in an annual report recently delivered to the US Senate, citing their efforts in fighting terrorists, including the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group, Press TV reported.
The unclassified version of the report titled “Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Communities,” which was released on February 26, 2015, noted Iran’s efforts to fight extremists, including IS militants, who were perceived to constitute the greatest terrorist threat to American interests worldwide.
Highlighting Iran’s regional role, the report pointed to the Islamic Republic’s “intentions to dampen sectarianism, build responsive partners, and deescalate tensions with Saudi Arabia.”
Iran has “overarching strategic goals of enhancing its security, prestige, and regional influence (that) have led it to pursue capabilities to meet its civilian goals,” the report said.
The report also said Hezbollah is countering IS in Syria and Iraq.
