(WASHINGTON, DC) — Hezbollah and Iran are no longer on the list of U.S. terror threats, according to an annual security assessment issued by James Clapper, director of the U.S. National Intelligence.
In a previous report from January 2014, the list included Iran and Hezbollah in the “Terrorism” section, citing “direct threats” to the interests of U.S. allies.
But this year, the assessment praised Iran and Hezbollah for its attempts to “dampen sectarianism” and “deescalate tensions with Saudi Arabia.”
The report adds that Hezbollah faces threats from ISIS and the al-Nusra Front along Lebanon’s borders.
In recent months, the U.S. sent military aid to the Lebanese Army to assist the country’s fight against ISIS in border towns. Hezbollah and the U.S. have since become de-facto allies with a common target to combat ISIS.
“Sunni extremists are trying to establish networks in Lebanon and have increased attacks against Lebanese army and Hezbollah positions along the Lebanese-Syrian border,” the report said.
The report, under the title the Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Communities, was released on February 26, 2015 to the U.S. Senate and was recently declassified by Times of Israel newspaper.
The U.S. policy change comes as the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany aim to outline a deal that would prevent Tehran from making a nuclear bomb.
The parties hope to reach a full accord by July 1.