US knowledge of Iranian nuclear program "incomplete" -- former CIA Director

WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- The US knowledge of the Iranian nuclear program is "incomplete" and the US needs an agreement with more transparency than it does today, said Former CIA Director General Michael Hayden.
"Even with incomplete knowledge on the program, it's my belief that, at a minimum, Iran is keeping its options open, working very hard to keep its options open for a nuclear weapon," insisted Hayden, while testifying in a hearing to the Congress, late on Thursday.
Hayden's noted that regardless of how close Iran is to a weapon, the US needs to reverse the nuclear program instead of pausing it.
As part of the Joint Plan of Action (JPOA), the US has eased trade restrictions on Iran in return for its compliance. As a result Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Mark Dubowitz highlighted to Congress that, "The administration seriously underestimated the value of sanctions relief under the JPOA. It did not account for the psychological impact on Iran's macroeconomic environment. As a result, Iran's economy has shown signs of stabilization, reflected in modest GDP growth, a stabilization of the currency and a significant drop in inflation." Senior associate in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Middle East Program, Karim Sadjadpour, then brought up the divide between Iranian citizens and government rule and cited, "The paradox of Iran is the fact that you have a society which aspires to be like South Korea -- prosperous and integrated -- and you have a regime which shows a much greater resemblance to North Korea, prioritizing isolation, ideological purity and militarization." Iranian civil society has been very supportive of a deal with the US while revolutionary elite have expressed concern that it would undermine their hold on power.
P5+1 officials are meeting in Vienna this week with Iranian leaders in hopes of reaching a deal by the deadline of November 24 on Monday. (end) ak.gta