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May 22, 2019

Lawmakers Are Briefed by Trump Admin on Iran Situation
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In more news from Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, acting
Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and intelligence officials met with
members of the House and Senate for briefings on the situation with
Iran. Patrick Shanahan said the U.S. had received "credible intelligence
about threats to our interests in the Middle East and to American
forces." He also repeated an earlier refrain from the administration
that the current U.S. strategy is about deterrence, not starting a war.
He said the deterrence measures had been successful in "put[ting] on
hold" possible attacks on Americans for now. Senator Lindsey Graham
relayed further details about the briefing to reporters.

Sen. Lindsey Graham: "They explained to us how the Iranian threat
streams were different than in the past; that the attack on the ships
and the pipeline was coordinated and directed by the Iranian government,
the ayatollah; that we had picked up strong intelligence that they had
given the Shiite militia basically more running room and direction; and
that attacks against American interests and personnel were imminent."

But Democratic lawmakers questioned the briefing, which they said did
not further clarify the administration's plans going forward. Chair of
the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith warned about the risk of
miscalculations on both sides and asked, "What is this maximum pressure
campaign trying to achieve?"

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned the U.S. decision
to send a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the region in
an interview with CNN. He said, "Having all these military assets in a
small area is in of itself prone to accidents. … Extreme prudence is
required, and the United States is playing a very, very dangerous game."

In related news, Iraq said it will send delegations to Washington and
Tehran in an attempt to "halt tension." Iraq said it does not want war
in the region, two days after a rocket attack in Baghdad that the United
States believes may have been linked to militias with ties to Tehran.
Iran has rejected the claims.


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