House Democrats will reportedly receive a briefing on Tuesday from former CIA Director John Brennan on Iran as tensions between the Middle Eastern country and the U.S. escalate.
Brennan, who has been critical of President Trump, will speak to Democrats during a private caucus meeting, the Associated Press reported Sunday, citing a Democratic aide and another source familiar with the matter.
Wendy Sherman, who previously worked for the State Department and helped negotiate the Iran nuclear deal, was also invited to speak, according to the AP. Members of Congress will also attend a closed-door Trump administration briefing on Tuesday.
There has been hostility between the U.S. and Iran since President Trump last year pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear deal, which lifted some sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. In recent weeks, these tensions have ramped up.
Last week, Trump denied a report that his team was getting ready to deploy 120,000 troops to the Middle East but said he would send more if it were necessary. He also said he did not want war with Iran.
The president was also frustrated with advisers such as national security adviser Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over their hardline stances on Iran and wanted to speak leaders in Tehran himself, according to The Washington Post. Meanwhile, an Iranian military official said last week that the U.S. was “holding a gun” at Tehran while calling for talks.
The State Department last Wednesday moved to evacuate non-emergency personnel from the neighboring country of Iraq.