HIZBULLAH, IRAN REMOVED FROM U.S. TERROR LIST

Washington, 27 Jumadil Awwal 1436/18 March 2015 (MINA) – Hizbullah and Iran are no longer enrolled on a U.S. list of terror threats, according to an annual report by the U.S. National Intelligence that was delivered to the Senate.

Hizbullah and Tehran, which comprise along with Syria and other organizations the “axis of resistance” that oppose Israel and Western policies in the Middle East, have exerted efforts to combat the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

The report, under the title the Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Communities, was released on February 26, 2015 to the U.S. Senate by director of National Intelligence James Clapper, Nahar Net quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The document cites Iran and Hizbullah’s endeavors to battle Sunni extremists “who were perceived to constitute the preeminent terrorist threat to American interests worldwide.”

However, the Times of Israel newspaper said that the report expressed concern that “Iran’s actions to protect and empower Shia communities are fueling growing fears and sectarian responses.”

The Islamic State, which controls several areas in Syria and Iraq, aims to spread to Lebanon as its fighters position in the outskirts of Bekaa towns bordering Syria.

It has carried out numerous atrocities in areas it controls ranging from public beheadings to enslavement and rape.

A number of militants across the world have recently pledged their allegiance to the IS jihadists, and several attacks inspired by the group were carried out in the West.

The report comes as the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany aim by the end of this month to nail down the outline of a deal that would prevent Tehran from making a nuclear bomb.

The parties hope to reach a full accord by July 1. (T/P001/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)