Feinstein, Iranian foreign minister had dinner amid tensions: report

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) had dinner with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif amid escalating U.S.-Iranian tensions, Politico’s Playbook reported early Thursday.

The California lawmaker’s office told the news outlet the dinner was “arranged in consultation with the State Department.”

“The office was in touch with State in advance of the meeting to let them know it was happening and to get an update on U.S.-Iran activity,” Feinstein’s office added.

{mosads}Feinstein’s office did not immediately respond to a request for more information about the meeting from The Hill, which also contacted the White House for comment.

The reported dinner comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

The Trump administration earlier this month deployed bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf in response to unspecified threats from Iran.

Earlier this year, the U.S. named Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. Tehran responded by designating all U.S. forces in the Middle East as terrorists.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan briefed lawmakers on intelligence detailing recent actions by Iran, as President Trump and Republicans warn of a growing threat from Tehran.

Trump withdrew from the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran one year ago and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.