The Washington Post: US intelligence intercepted communications of Iranian officials downplaying the extent of US attacks
The Washington Post reported Sunday that US intelligence intercepted communications of senior Iranian officials in which they said that US attacks on nuclear facilities were “less destructive than expected”.
The Washington Post quoted four sources familiar with the intelligence information as saying that intercepts obtained using signals intelligence techniques revealed private discussions among Iranian government officials about why the attacks ordered by President Donald Trump were not as devastating and comprehensive as they had expected.
He noted that her team contacted the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for comment on these intercepted communications, and a senior intelligence official responded that “the Iranians are wrong”.
The US official said that one piece of signals intelligence doesn’t reflect the full intelligence picture, according to the Washington Post.
He added, “A single phone conversation between unidentified Iranians doesn’t equate to a comprehensive intelligence assessment, compiled from multiple sources and methods”.
The Washington Post noted that what is known as “signals intelligence,” which involves gathering information from phone calls, emails, and other electronic communications, is one of the most powerful tools of American spy agencies.
However, the data collected in this way has its limitations, as it can sometimes lack the full context of intercepted conversations, requiring integration with other information to obtain a clearer picture of events.
