Special to WorldTribune.com

The annual U.S. intelligence ‘Worldwide Threat Assessment’ not only left Iran off the list of terror threats but included words of praise for efforts to build partnerships with Sunni states to combat militant extremists.

The report was presented to the U.S. Senate by James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence and was dated Feb. 26.

Israel’s Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center noted in an analysis of the report that the Defense Intelligence Agency assessment, also presented on Feb. 26, did include Iran and its proxy Hizbullah as terror threats.

“Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Lebanese Hizbullah are instruments of Iran’s foreign policy and its ability to project power in Iraq, Syria, and beyond,” the DIA assessment said.

“Hizbullah continues to support the Syrian regime, pro-regime militants and Iraqi Shia militants in Syria. . . . Select Iraqi Shia militant groups also warned of their willingness to fight U.S. forces returning to Iraq.”

The unclassified version of Clapper’s report noted Iran’s efforts to fight Sunni extremists, including those of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant who were presented as the top terrorist threat to American interests worldwide.

The analysis by Israel’s Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center said the removal of Iran and Hizbullah from the list of terror threats, was tied to the ongoing U.S. campaign against ISIL.

“We believe that this results from a combination of diplomatic interests (the United States’ talks with Iran about a nuclear deal) with the idea that Iran could assist in the battle against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq and maybe even in the battle against jihadist terrorism in other countries.” the analysis said.

  DNI offered words of praise, Intelligence split: DIA report kept Iran on terror threat list, WorldTribune.com