{"id":2053506,"date":"2023-10-03T08:05:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T12:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-republicans-urge-pentagon-to-yank-security-clearance-of-official-with-reported-ties-to-iran\/"},"modified":"2023-10-03T08:06:32","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T12:06:32","slug":"senate-republicans-urge-pentagon-to-yank-security-clearance-of-official-with-reported-ties-to-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-republicans-urge-pentagon-to-yank-security-clearance-of-official-with-reported-ties-to-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Republicans demand Pentagon revoke security clearance of official linked to Iran."},"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\">24<\/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%2Fsenate-republicans-urge-pentagon-to-yank-security-clearance-of-official-with-reported-ties-to-iran%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=2053506&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--><div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<h2>Senate Republicans Demand Revocation of Pentagon Official&#8217;s Security Clearance<\/h2>\n<p>More \u2062than two dozen Senate Republicans are demanding the Pentagon revoke the security clearance of one of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kim-jong-un-shows-off-ballistic-missiles-to-russian-defense-minister\/\" title=\"Kim Jong Un flaunts ballistic missiles to Russian Defense Minister.\">high-ranking \u200cofficials<\/a> \u2062after \u2063it was discovered she possesses\u2063 close ties to the Iranian government.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIran continues to threaten U.S. \u200bmilitary personnel in\u2062 the Middle East and remains intent on assassinating American citizens here in the United States. \u2064Given these\u200b facts, we find it simply unconscionable that a senior Department official \u200cwould continue to hold a sensitive position despite her alleged participation in an Iranian\u2062 government\u200d information operation,\u201d the senators wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wicker.senate.gov\/services\/files\/4738ABC2-2EA3-4B25-9734-A181AB1DC729\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">letter<\/a> to Defense\u200b Secretary Lloyd\u200c Austin on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>As noted in the\u2062 letter, the\u200b official in question \u200bis \u200cAriane Tabatabai, the chief of\u2063 staff\u200c for the assistant \u2063secretary of defense for\u2062 special operations at the Defense Department, who according to a series of\u2064 emails <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semafor.com\/article\/09\/25\/2023\/inside-irans-influence-operation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">released<\/a> last \u200dweek by Semafor and Iran International, participated in\u200c an initiative sponsored\u200c by Iran\u2019s terrorist\u200c government. The 2014 effort, known as the\u200d Iran Experts Initiative, was crafted by the Iranian Foreign Ministry and aimed\u200c at\u2062 recruiting a bevy \u2064of \u201cinfluential overseas academics and researchers,\u201d who would help \u201cbolster Tehran\u2019s image and positions\u2064 on global \u2062security issues\u200d \u2014 particularly its nuclear program.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Three of these recruits, including Tabatabai, went on to work as aides for Robert Malley, \u2062President\u2062 Joe Biden\u2019s lead negotiator on\u2064 Iran. As The Federalist\u2019s David Harsanyi <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/09\/27\/democrats-favorite-appeaser-hired-iranian-conspirators-for-obama-and-biden-positions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>, Malley \u2014\u200c who \u201chas a real soft \u2062spot for the Islamic\u200d State and its allies\u201d \u2014 recently \u2063had his security clearance revoked and is the subject of a federal investigation over \u2062his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/fbi-biden-iran-envoy-rob-malley-handling-classified-material\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">handling<\/a> of classified material.<\/p>\n<p>As the Senate Republicans noted, the communications obtained by Semafor and Iran International reportedly show that Tabatabai actively sought guidance from the Iranian Foreign Ministry on how she could bolster Tehran\u2019s public image. The reporting also apparently shows\u200d Tabatabai\u2019s willingness to pen propaganda for Iran in U.S. media outlets such as the Boston Globe.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe\u2062 latest allegations reported in Semafor \u2026 indicate that Ms. \u200dTabatabai may have been engaged in\u2063 a relationship with the Iranian regime well beyond what even her strongest\u200b critics alleged,\u201d the GOP senators wrote. \u201cThe fact that the Department initially \u200cresponded to these\u2062 latest allegations \u2064by rushing a full-throated defense of Ms. Tabatabai, rather than taking the time to ensure that our national\u2063 security \u200dhas not been compromised, \u2064suggests that you are protecting hiring missteps rather than prioritizing national security.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In their \u200dFriday letter, Senate Republicans\u2063 urged Austin to revoke Tabatabai\u2019s security clearance \u2063pending an investigation into her reported activities. The\u2064 senators furthermore\u2064 requested the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-republicans-urge-pentagon-to-yank-security-clearance-of-official-with-reported-ties-to-iran\/\" title=\"Senate Republicans demand Pentagon revoke security clearance of official linked to Iran.\">defense secretary provide answers<\/a> to a series of questions regarding Tabatabai\u2019s security clearance by \u2064Oct. \u20626.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr>\n<h3>Author Information<\/h3>\n<p>Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous \u200doutlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter <strong>@ShawnFleetwood<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-image data-amount=\"5\">\n<h2>Popular<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u2064 What\u200d evidence is there that suggests Tabatabai continued to collaborate with individuals connected\u200c to the Iranian government after being \u2063hired by the Defense Department?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Or and \u2064Iran International show that Tabatabai\u2064 continued\u2062 to collaborate with individuals connected to the \u200bIranian government even after she was hired by the Defense Department. This raises serious concerns about her loyalty and potential for espionage.<\/p>\n<p>The senators argue that allowing Tabatabai \u2062to retain her security clearance and sensitive position poses a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-allows-huawei-to-enter-us-auto-industry\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Allows Huawei To Enter US Auto Industry\">significant national security risk<\/a>. They emphasize that Iran has a long history \u2064of sponsoring terrorism and\u2063 conducting information operations against the United States. Given her alleged participation in an Iranian government\u200c information operation, they believe it is unacceptable for Tabatabai to continue\u2063 in her current role.<\/p>\n<p>This is not the first time that concerns have been raised\u2062 about individuals within the \u2064Biden administration with ties to Iran. Robert\u200b Malley, who was hired \u200bas Biden&#8217;s lead negotiator on\u200c Iran, is also under investigation for his connections\u2062 to Iranian \u2064conspirators. The\u200c fact that three recruits of the Iranian Foreign \u2062Ministry&#8217;s initiative went on to work as Malley&#8217;s aides further underscores the need for a thorough examination of potential infiltration by Iranian agents within the U.S. government.<\/p>\n<p>The demand to revoke Tabatabai&#8217;s security\u200b clearance comes at a\u200b critical time when the United States is attempting to negotiate \u200dwith Iran\u2064 on \u200ba range of issues, \u2064including the revival of \u2064the Iran nuclear deal. Senate Republicans\u200b argue that having individuals with questionable \u200dties to the Iranian government in\u2064 positions of \u2062influence undermines the integrity of these negotiations\u2064 and potentially compromises U.S. national security interests.<\/p>\n<p>The letter sent to Defense Secretary Lloyd\u200c Austin by the Senate \u200bRepublicans highlights the\u200b urgent need for \u2064a comprehensive review of all individuals within the Defense Department who may have connections to adversarial foreign governments. It calls for a thorough examination of security clearances and a reassessment of the vetting procedures in place to \u200censure \u200bthat individuals with ties to hostile entities are not entrusted with sensitive\u2064 information\u2062 and positions of power.<\/p>\n<p>The concerns raised by Senate Republicans raise \u2062broader questions about the \u200beffectiveness of the current\u200d security clearance process and the need for stricter scrutiny of individuals with foreign\u200b ties. In an \u2062era of \u200cincreasing \u200dglobal threats and \u2062information warfare, it is crucial that the United States remains vigilant in protecting its national security \u2062interests.<\/p>\n<p>The demand to \u2062revoke Tabatabai&#8217;s security clearance is\u2062 an important \u200cstep towards \u200csafeguarding U.S. national\u200c security and sending a\u2062 clear message \u2064that individuals \u2062with compromising ties to adversarial governments will\u2062 not be tolerated in positions of influence within the \u200bU.S. government.<\/p>\n<p>It \u2064remains to be seen how\u2064 the Pentagon \u2062will respond to this demand from Senate Republicans, but the \u200dconcerns raised in \u200cthe letter \u200bmust be taken seriously. The security \u200cof the United States and the integrity of its government institutions depend on robust measures to identify and address potential threats from within.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over 24 Senate Republicans are urging the Pentagon to withdraw the security clearance of a senior official due to her strong connections with the Iranian government. They argue that Iran poses a persistent threat to American military personnel in the Middle East and is determined to target US citizens within the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2053507,"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":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2053506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"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\/2053506","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\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2053506"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053506\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2053507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2053506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2053506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2053506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}