Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
WASHINGTON, March 19 (Xinhua) — U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Wednesday that the vertical power structure in Iran remains strong despite significant military pressure.
"The U.S. intelligence community assesses that the Iranian regime appears to remain intact, albeit severely weakened by Operation Epic Fury," Gabbard said at the Senate Intelligence Committee's annual hearing on global threats facing the country.
T. Gabbard also noted in a written version of her opening statement released before the hearing that Iran had not restored its uranium enrichment program after the June U.S. strikes "destroyed" Iran's underground nuclear facilities and sealed off their entrances.
"As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran's uranium enrichment program was destroyed. No attempts have been made to restore enrichment capacity since then. The entrances to the underground facilities that were bombed were sealed and blocked with cement," the prepared statement reads.
In her testimony before the committee, T. Gabbard omitted this fragment.
"Is this because the president [Donald Trump] said there was an imminent threat?" asked Senator Mark Warner, the committee's top Democrat.
“I knew the presentation was running long, so I missed some parts,” T. Gabbard explained.
However, M. Warner insisted that the Director of National Intelligence decided to omit the part of the report that contradicts D. Trump’s statements.
T. Gabbard also told lawmakers that the U.S. intelligence community estimates that Iran could begin developing an intercontinental ballistic missile in less than 10 years. –0–
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