GOP rep says intel on Iran is ‘credible’

Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) said Sunday intelligence on Iran as a rising threat is “credible.”

“I’ve seen the intelligence, it’s very credible intelligence. This intelligence was produced by hard-working men in the CIA, in our intelligence community,” Hurd, a former CIA officer, said on CBS’s “Face The Nation.” 

“It’s our military leaders that are asking for some of these moves to make sure that we’re protecting our folks in that region.”

“I don’t think anybody wants to go to war with Iran, but we need to be prepared to protect our troops that are already there.”

.@HurdOnTheHill says the intelligence on Iran as a rising threat is “credible”: “I’ve seen the intelligence… it’s solid… I don’t think anybody wants to go to war with Iran, but we need to prepare to protect our troops that are already there.” pic.twitter.com/kr12QXBmYv

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) May 26, 2019

Iran tensions have been high since the Trump administration last year pulled out of the Obama-era nuclear deal and reinstated sanctions on Tehran.

{mosads}The situation has escalated in recent weeks, particularly after the administration sent a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East amid what officials called  “troubling and escalatory indications and warnings” from Iran that had not been publicly identified.

Trump said Friday that he would send about 1,500 troops to the Middle East to counter Iran’s influence, again citing intelligence about Iran.

Lawmakers were briefed last week by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan on the intelligence supporting these military moves.

Democrats and foreign intervention skeptics have been critical of the moves, accusing Trump of being the one provoking conflict.