{"id":2048717,"date":"2023-09-28T20:23:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T00:23:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-ernst-presses-biden-pentagon-nominee-over-state-dept-official-linked-to-iranian-influence-operation\/"},"modified":"2023-09-28T20:26:11","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T00:26:11","slug":"sen-ernst-presses-biden-pentagon-nominee-over-state-dept-official-linked-to-iranian-influence-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-ernst-presses-biden-pentagon-nominee-over-state-dept-official-linked-to-iranian-influence-operation\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Ernst questions Biden&#8217;s Pentagon nominee on State Dept. official tied to Iranian influence operation."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsen-ernst-presses-biden-pentagon-nominee-over-state-dept-official-linked-to-iranian-influence-operation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2048717&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>President Biden&#8217;s Pentagon Policy Chief Nominee Faces Scrutiny\u200b Over Iranian Influence Network<\/h2>\n<p>In \u2062a\u2064 confirmation hearing before the\u2064 Senate Armed Services Committee, Derek Chollet, President \u2062Biden&#8217;s nominee for undersecretary\u200c of defense for\u2062 policy, found\u200c himself under fire from \u2063Republican senators. They questioned his involvement in controversial \u2063foreign policy \u2064decisions, such as the Afghanistan evacuation and military\u200b equipment sent\u200b to Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>However, the hearing took a dramatic turn when a bombshell\u200d report revealed internal Iranian government emails \u2064obtained by Semafor, exposing an Iranian influence operation involving top officials from both the Obama and Biden administrations. Senator Joni Ernst pressed Chollet about\u2064 one \u2063individual, currently working for the \u200dPentagon, who had ties to Iranian\u200b officials and had pledged loyalty to Iran.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t think the Biden admin\u2019s appeasement of Iran could get worse,\u201d Ernst said in an X-post. \u201cToday,\u2063 I confronted them on \u2062allowing an Iranian\u200c spy to infiltrate and work\u200d at the Pentagon. They DEFENDED it. Unbelievable!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The network, known\u2062 as the Iran Experts Initiative, included individuals working for Rob Malley, Biden&#8217;s former Special Envoy to \u200cIran. Two of Malley&#8217;s top aides,\u2062 Ali Vaez and Adnan Tabatabai, were in regular contact with Iranian officials, aiming to improve Iran&#8217;s image while negotiating a nuclear deal with the\u200c United States. In an email obtained by Semafor, Tabatabai expressed her loyalty to Iran.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIran was &#8216;our country&#8217; and we were\u2062 &#8216;willing\u200c to dedicate our capacities and resources to jointly working on improving Iran\u2019s foreign relations,&#8217;\u201d \u200dTabatabai wrote in an email \u200bto Javad Zarif, Iran\u2019s Minister of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>During the \u200dconfirmation hearing, Ernst pressed \u2063Chollet on Tabatabai&#8217;s involvement and whether it was\u2064 prudent to have someone with a history of conferring with Iranian officials in a sensitive \u2062counterterrorism and special\u2062 operations role. Chollet claimed ignorance of the\u2063 specific instance but assured Ernst that thorough background checks were conducted \u200bfor national security positions.<\/p>\n<p>Chollet&#8217;s \u2062nomination would put him in a position overseeing Tabatabai&#8217;s role if confirmed. However,\u200c concerns about Tabatabai&#8217;s security clearance have arisen, prompting the \u2063Defense Department to investigate the matter.<\/p>\n<p>Chris Maier, the assistant secretary of defense for special\u200d operations, stated during \u200ca congressional testimony that the issue is an ongoing personnel matter. He also mentioned that they are reviewing whether all \u2063laws and policies were followed in granting \u200cTabatabai top-secret clearance.<\/p>\n<p>The revelation of Iran&#8217;s \u2062ability to place loyalists\u2062 in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-imposes-new-round-of-sanctions-on-additional-russian-oligarchs-and-elites\/\" title=\"US Imposes New Round Of Sanctions On Additional Russian Oligarchs And Elites\">high-ranking positions<\/a> within the U.S. government has raised alarm.\u2064 Former State Department official Morgan Ortagus called it &#8220;the scandal\u200b of\u2063 a generation&#8221; and highlighted\u200b the influence Iran has exerted on U.S. foreign policy.<\/p>\n<p>If \u200cChollet&#8217;s nomination is approved by the committee, it will\u200d proceed to a \u200bfull Senate confirmation. However, Senator Tommy Tuberville has shown resistance to Pentagon nominees due\u2062 to a disagreement over a travel policy related to abortion, which has caused delays \u200cin military promotions.<\/p>\n<p>Ernst has called on the Biden administration to end its appeasement of Iran and\u200d questioned the decision to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-puts-biden-admin-on-notice-congress-not-bound-by-new-iran-deal\/\" title=\"GOP Puts Biden Admin on Notice: Congress Not Bound By New Iran Deal\">offer sanctions relief<\/a> to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,\u200c a group she believes actively threatens Americans.<\/p>\n<p>The hearing \u200cand\u2064 subsequent \u2064revelations \u200chave intensified the scrutiny surrounding\u200b Chollet&#8217;s nomination and raised concerns about the extent\u2063 of Iranian influence within the U.S. government.<\/p>\n<p><em>Brent Scher contributed to this \u2064report.<\/em><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does Derek Chollet plan to address the concerns raised by Republican senators regarding the potential compromise of national security through ties to Iran?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ation hearing, Chollet acknowledged his past professional relationship with Malley but denied any \u200dknowledge of the\u2062 Iranian influence network. He emphasized the importance of maintaining trust \u2063and credibility within \u2064the Department of Defense and vowed to thoroughly investigate any allegations of foreign influence.<\/p>\n<p>Republican senators \u200cexpressed concerns over the potential compromise of national security and the implications of having individuals with ties to Iran in critical \u2062positions within the \u2063Pentagon. They pointed out the possibility of \u2064sensitive information being leaked or strategic decisions being\u200d influenced by Iranian interests.<\/p>\n<p>The revelation \u200dof the Iranian influence network adds \u2064another layer \u200dof complexity to an already contentious confirmation process. It highlights the\u2064 challenges faced by the Biden administration in balancing diplomatic engagement \u200bwith Iran\u2062 while\u2063 ensuring\u200c the protection of \u2062US\u2062 national security interests.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Ernst&#8217;s reaction to \u200cthe\u2062 presence of an alleged Iranian spy \u200bwithin the Pentagon reflects growing anxieties among conservatives \u2062about\u2064 the Biden administration&#8217;s\u2063 approach to Iran. Many fear a return to a \u200dpolicy of appeasement that could\u200b undermine US interests\u200b and jeopardize regional stability.<\/p>\n<p>The Biden administration faces a significant task in responding to\u2062 these\u2064 concerns and restoring confidence in its\u200b approach to national security. The investigation into the alleged Iranian influence network should be vigorous and thorough, leaving no \u2062stone \u2064unturned. Swift action must be taken if any \u200bwrongdoing is\u2064 discovered, demonstrating\u2064 a firm commitment to\u2062 safeguarding US interests and\u2064 deterring foreign interference.<\/p>\n<p>As the confirmation process continues, \u2063it is critical for \u200cboth senators\u2063 and the Biden administration to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-push-to-make-military-vehicles-climate-friendly-hands-americas-military-infrastructure-to-red-china\/\" title=\"Biden's plan for eco-friendly military vehicles gives China control of US military infrastructure.\">prioritize national security<\/a> \u2063and ensure that individuals appointed to key \u200dpositions \u2064are thoroughly vetted. The potential presence of \u2064individuals linked to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-ernst-presses-biden-pentagon-nominee-over-state-dept-official-linked-to-iranian-influence-operation\/\" title=\"Sen. Ernst questions Biden's Pentagon nominee on State Dept. official tied to Iranian influence operation.\">foreign governments raises legitimate concerns<\/a> about the\u200c trustworthiness and loyalty of those entrusted with the nation&#8217;s defense policy.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, it is\u200b crucial that transparency, accountability, and integrity\u200c guide the\u200b decision-making process within \u200bthe \u2062Pentagon and across all areas \u200bof the federal government. \u200dThe Biden \u2063administration must be responsive to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-where-gop-election-officials-stand-on-their-states-ties-to-a-leftist-controlled-voter-roll-maintenance-group\/\" title=\"Here\u2019s Where GOP Election Officials Stand On Their State\u2019s Ties To A Leftist-Controlled Voter Roll \u2018Maintenance\u2019 Group\">legitimate concerns raised<\/a> during the confirmation process and take appropriate \u200daction to address any \u200bperceived weaknesses in national security protocols.<\/p>\n<p>The scrutiny faced by Derek Chollet underscores the\u200c importance of a robust and transparent\u2063 confirmation process \u2064that thoroughly examines the qualifications,\u200b expertise, \u200band \u2062potential conflicts of\u200d interest of \u200cnominees. As the Pentagon policy \u2062chief, Chollet would hold a \u200bposition of immense responsibility, shaping and implementing \u200ckey defense\u200b policies. It\u2062 is imperative that any perceived weaknesses or\u200b potential risks be \u2062addressed to ensure the effective and secure functioning of the Department of Defense.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the confirmation of\u2063 Derek\u2064 Chollet and the investigation into \u200cthe alleged Iranian influence network should serve as \u200ba reminder of the ongoing\u2063 challenges and complexities of US national security policy. It requires a\u2062 delicate balance between diplomatic engagement \u200band vigilant \u200cdefense of US interests. Through careful evaluation\u2064 and decisive action, the Biden administration can\u200b demonstrate its commitment to protecting national security while \u200bengaging with the international community \u2064effectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Joe Biden&#8217;s nominee for undersecretary of defense for policy, Derek Chollet, expressed ignorance regarding a State Department official linked to an Iranian influence network. This official had seemingly pledged loyalty to Iran, a nation known for its support of terrorism. Chollet&#8217;s nomination is now facing scrutiny.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":429,"featured_media":2048718,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2048717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/429"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2048717"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048717\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2048718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2048717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2048717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2048717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}