CIA denies US media report of Iraq meeting between agency director, Iranian officials
April 27, 2021, 9:49 am

CIA denies US media report of Iraq meeting between agency director, Iranian officials

William Burns, nominee for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director, testifies during his Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Feb. 24, 2021. (Reuters)

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) denied reports Monday that the agency’s director had recently met with Iranian officials during a covert trip to Iraq.

An article published by an American foreign policy publication reported that CIA Director Bill Burns traveled to Baghdad “in recent days,” where he met with officials from Tehran at the home of Iraq’s foreign minister, Fuad Hussein.

The original article cited “multiple Iraqi sources on the ground” who were unnamed.

The White House and State Department referred questions to the CIA.

A CIA spokesperson said the report was false.

Burns, a veteran US diplomat, was recently tapped by Biden to lead the intelligence agency after he spent decades at the State Department.

And he is no stranger to behind-the-scenes meetings. Years before the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Burns carried out secret negotiations with Iranian officials on behalf of the Obama administration.

Last week, The Associated Press reported that he made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan shortly after President Joe Biden announced that US troops would entirely withdraw by Sept. 11.

In Kabul, Burns reportedly discussed the country’s readiness to combat terrorism following the US withdrawal. The AP also reported that Burns “reassured Afghan officials that the US would continue to be engaged in counterterrorism efforts.”

The CIA has not commented on the reported trip to Kabul either.

source: Joseph Haboush

Image source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”