The Pentagon is taking a second look into allegations that one of its senior officials was part of an influence operation orchestrated by the Iranian government — after insisting earlier this week that she had been properly vetted during her background investigation.
Ariane Tabatabai is the chief of staff for Chris Maier, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict. The Semafor news agency recentlythat she was part of the Iran Experts Initiative , an initiative established by Tehran’s Foreign Ministry to improve Iran’s image abroad.
She also told Mostafa Zahari, the head of an in-house think tank at the Foreign Ministry, about an article she published in the Boston Globe that downplayed the notion Tehran was seeking its programs in order to obtain a nuclear bomb, according to the Semafor report. On Thursday, Mr. Maier appeared to walk back that glowing endorsement during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill. He told Rep. Brian Mast, Florida Republican, that it was now an “ongoing personnel matter.”
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