The former head of the US Central Intelligence Agency labelled the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist Friday a "criminal" act that risks inflaming conflict in the region.

John Brennan said he did not know who was to blame for the murder of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, as Tehran pointed its finger at Israel.

"This was a criminal act &amp; highly reckless. It risks lethal retaliation &amp; a new round of regional conflict," Brennan said in a series of tweets.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This was a criminal act &amp; highly reckless. It risks lethal retaliation &amp; a new round of regional conflict. 
Iranian leaders would be wise to wait for the return of responsible American leadership on the global stage &amp; to resist the urge to respond against perceived culprits. <a href="https://t.co/0uZhyBTM3S">https://t.co/0uZhyBTM3S</a>
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnBrennan/status/1332400792620462082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I do not know whether a foreign government authorized or carried out the murder of Fakhrizadeh," he said.

"Such an act of state-sponsored terrorism would be a flagrant violation of international law &amp; encourage more governments to carry out lethal attacks against foreign officials."

Brennan noted that Fakhrizadeh was not a designated terrorist nor a member of Al Qaeda or the Islamic State group, designated terror groups which would be legal targets.

A strong critic of President Donald Trump, Brennan urged Tehran to "resist the urge" to retaliate and "wait for the return of responsible American leadership on the global stage," a reference to November 3 election winner Joe Biden, who will replace Trump on January 20.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-top-nuclear-scientist-mohsen-fakhrizadeh-assassinated-345915">Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated</a>

Brennan was director of the CIA from 2013 to 2017, under the administration of President Barack Obama and then-vice president Biden.

Brennan did not take part in Biden's election campaign and has not appeared to be involved in his preparations for taking office on January 20.

But early this week Biden named Brennan's former deputy director at the CIA, Avril Haines, as his director of national intelligence.

The former head of the US Central Intelligence Agency labelled the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist Friday a "criminal" act that risks inflaming conflict in the region.

The former head of the US Central Intelligence Agency labelled the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist Friday a "criminal" act that risks inflaming conflict in the region. John Brennan said he did not know who was to blame for the murder of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, as Tehran pointed its finger at Israel. "This was a criminal act & highly reckless. It risks lethal retaliation & a new round of regional conflict," Brennan said in a series of tweets. This was a criminal act & highly reckless. It risks lethal retaliation & a new round of regional conflict. Iranian leaders would be wise to wait for the return of responsible American leadership on the global stage & to resist the urge to respond against perceived culprits. https://t.co/0uZhyBTM3S — John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) November 27, 2020 × "I do not know whether a foreign government authorized or carried out the murder of Fakhrizadeh," he said. "Such an act of state-sponsored terrorism would be a flagrant violation of international law & encourage more governments to carry out lethal attacks against foreign officials." Brennan noted that Fakhrizadeh was not a designated terrorist nor a member of Al Qaeda or the Islamic State group, designated terror groups which would be legal targets. A strong critic of President Donald Trump, Brennan urged Tehran to "resist the urge" to retaliate and "wait for the return of responsible American leadership on the global stage," a reference to November 3 election winner Joe Biden, who will replace Trump on January 20. Also read | Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh assassinated Brennan was director of the CIA from 2013 to 2017, under the administration of President Barack Obama and then-vice president Biden. Brennan did not take part in Biden's election campaign and has not appeared to be involved in his preparations for taking office on January 20. But early this week Biden named Brennan's former deputy director at the CIA, Avril Haines, as his director of national intelligence.

Ex-CIA chief condemns 'criminal' assassination of Iranian

Two more suspected bombs were found in New York City and Delaware on Thursday morning as a<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/manhunt-underway-after-bombs-sent-to-us-democrats-trump-critics-173411"> manhunt intensified </a>for a serial bomber who targeted high-profile Democrats and CNN, less than two weeks ahead of elections that could alter the US&nbsp;political landscape.

Police said a device in New York City was similar to the other bombs and was addressed to actor <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-police-investigate-suspicious-package-found-at-de-niros-restaurant-report-173407">Robert De Niro</a>, who hurled an obscenity at President Donald Trump at the Tony Awards last June.

Police found a ninth suspicious package that was addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden at a mail facility in New Castle County, Delaware, CBS News reported, citing federal authorities.

None of the nine devices went off and no injuries were reported, but some top Democrats called the threats a symptom of a coarsening brand of political rhetoric promoted by Trump, who also condemned the acts.

At a Wisconsin rally Wednesday night Trump called attention to "how nice I’m behaving tonight” but on Thursday morning he attacked the media.

"A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News," Trump wrote. "It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!"

All the people who were targeted are frequently maligned by right-wing critics, including former <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/explosive-device-found-near-bill-and-hillary-clintons-home-in-new-york-173244">US&nbsp;President Barack Obama</a>, former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder.

Former CIA Director John Brennan, prominent Democratic Party donor George Soros and California Representative <a href="http://www.wionews.com/americas/suspicious-package-also-sent-to-california-democratic-representative-maxine-waters-confirms-fbi-173278">Maxine Waters</a>, an outspoken critic of Trump, were also targeted.

The bomb packages were sent as the nation prepared for Nov. 6 elections that will decide whether Democrats take control of one or both houses of Congress from Republicans and deny Trump the majority his party now holds in both chambers.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Several politicians, including US&nbsp;Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, described it as an act of terrorism.

"Someone is trying to intimidate. Someone is trying to quash voices in this country using violence," De Blasio said. "I am confident that we will find the perpetrator or perpetrators."

The CNN bureau in New York received a package addressed to Brennan, who has appeared as a CNN analyst, leading police to evacuate the Time Warner building in a busy Manhattan neighbourhood near Central Park.

The package contained an envelope of white powder that experts were analyzing, New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.

'Aggressive investigation'

Trump told the Wisconsin rally his government would conduct "an aggressive investigation."

"Any acts or threats of political violence are an attack on our democracy itself," Trump said. "We want all sides to come together in peace and harmony."

Last week, Trump, who joined other Republicans in accusing Democrats of encouraging "mob" tactics, heaped praise on a Montana congressman who assaulted a reporter in 2017.

At an event in Texas on Wednesday, Brennan faulted Trump for frequent inflammatory rhetoric.

The first package, which turned up on Monday, was addressed to Soros, the billionaire financier and advocate of liberal, open-border values who is a frequent target of right-wing conspiracy theories.

The parcel intended for Holder ended up rerouted to the return address printed on all the packages - the Florida office of U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee, according to the FBI.

The FBI late Wednesday confirmed that two additional packages, similar in appearance to the others, were addressed to Waters.

The other packages consisted of a manila envelope with a bubble-wrap interior containing "potentially destructive devices." Each bore a computer-printed address label and six "Forever" postage stamps, the FBI said

Other officials said the devices contained in the envelopes were all similar to the one found in the mailbox of the Soros home and later detonated by police. At least one bomb was packed with shards of glass, one federal source said.

Two more suspected bombs were found in New York City and Delaware on Thursday morning as a manhunt intensified for a serial bomber who targeted high-profile Democrats and CNN, less than two weeks ahead of elections that could alter the US political landscape.

Two more suspected bombs were found in New York City and Delaware on Thursday morning as a manhunt intensified for a serial bomber who targeted high-profile Democrats and CNN, less than two weeks ahead of elections that could alter the US political landscape. Police said a device in New York City was similar to the other bombs and was addressed to actor Robert De Niro, who hurled an obscenity at President Donald Trump at the Tony Awards last June. Police found a ninth suspicious package that was addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden at a mail facility in New Castle County, Delaware, CBS News reported, citing federal authorities. None of the nine devices went off and no injuries were reported, but some top Democrats called the threats a symptom of a coarsening brand of political rhetoric promoted by Trump, who also condemned the acts. At a Wisconsin rally Wednesday night Trump called attention to "how nice I’m behaving tonight” but on Thursday morning he attacked the media. "A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News," Trump wrote. "It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!" All the people who were targeted are frequently maligned by right-wing critics, including former US President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder. Former CIA Director John Brennan, prominent Democratic Party donor George Soros and California Representative Maxine Waters, an outspoken critic of Trump, were also targeted. The bomb packages were sent as the nation prepared for Nov. 6 elections that will decide whether Democrats take control of one or both houses of Congress from Republicans and deny Trump the majority his party now holds in both chambers. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Several politicians, including US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, described it as an act of terrorism. "Someone is trying to intimidate. Someone is trying to quash voices in this country using violence," De Blasio said. "I am confident that we will find the perpetrator or perpetrators." The CNN bureau in New York received a package addressed to Brennan, who has appeared as a CNN analyst, leading police to evacuate the Time Warner building in a busy Manhattan neighbourhood near Central Park. The package contained an envelope of white powder that experts were analyzing, New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill said. 'Aggressive investigation' Trump told the Wisconsin rally his government would conduct "an aggressive investigation." "Any acts or threats of political violence are an attack on our democracy itself," Trump said. "We want all sides to come together in peace and harmony." Last week, Trump, who joined other Republicans in accusing Democrats of encouraging "mob" tactics, heaped praise on a Montana congressman who assaulted a reporter in 2017. At an event in Texas on Wednesday, Brennan faulted Trump for frequent inflammatory rhetoric. The first package, which turned up on Monday, was addressed to Soros, the billionaire financier and advocate of liberal, open-border values who is a frequent target of right-wing conspiracy theories. The parcel intended for Holder ended up rerouted to the return address printed on all the packages - the Florida office of U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee, according to the FBI. The FBI late Wednesday confirmed that two additional packages, similar in appearance to the others, were addressed to Waters. The other packages consisted of a manila envelope with a bubble-wrap interior containing "potentially destructive devices." Each bore a computer-printed address label and six "Forever" postage stamps, the FBI said Other officials said the devices contained in the envelopes were all similar to the one found in the mailbox of the Soros home and later detonated by police. At least one bomb was packed with shards of glass, one federal source said.

Two more bombs sent to former US Vice President Biden, actor De Niro

Former CIA director John Brennan said Tuesday he became increasingly concerned last summer over contacts between Donald Trump`s campaign officials and Moscow, as a Russian effort to interfere with the US presidential election became evident.

Brennan`s testimony before the House Intelligence Committee gave a much clearer view of how seriously US intelligence took the Russian threat, and why the FBI began investigating it in July, well before the American public was aware of the allegations.

&quot;I encountered and became aware of information and intelligence that revealed contacts and interactions between Russian officials and US persons involved in the Trump campaign,&quot; Brennan said.

&quot;I know what the Russians try to do,&quot; he told the committee. &quot;They try to suborn individuals and they try to get individuals, including US persons, to act on their behalf either wittingly or unwittingly.&quot;

&quot;Frequently, individuals on a treasonous path do not even realise they`re on that path until it gets to be too late,&quot; he added.

Brennan said he delivered a stiff telephone warning to his Russian counterpart, the head of the FSB spy agency, against meddling in early August, two months before US intelligence chiefs went public with their belief that Russia was trying to manipulate the election in Trump&#39;s favour.

&quot;I said American voters would be outraged by any attempt to interfere in the election,&quot; Brennan said of the August 4 call.

&quot;I warned him that if Russia pursued this course, it would destroy any near-term prospect for improvement of relations and would undermine constructive engagement even on matters of mutual interest.&quot;

Brennan did not cite the names of the Trump aides that US intelligence agencies had eyed for their Russia contacts. He also said that, when he stepped down from the CIA as Trump took office, he still did not know if there had been collusion.

&quot;By the time I left office on January 20, I had unresolved questions in my mind as to whether or not the Russians had been successful in getting US persons involved in the campaign or not to work on their behalf,&quot; he said.

Nevertheless, he said, &quot;It should be clear to everyone that Russia interfered in our 2016 presidential election process.&quot;

&quot;And that they undertook the activities despite our strong protests and explicit warning they not do so.&quot;

Brennan&#39;s comments came as investigations by the Justice Department and several Congressional committees into Russian interference increasingly focus on several people tied to the president.&nbsp;

A number of former Trump aides have been summoned to testify by Congress and a grand jury.After the former CIA chief spoke, the White House again denied any links to Moscow.

&quot;This morning`s hearings back up what we`ve been saying all along: that despite a year of investigation, there is still no evidence of any Russia-Trump campaign collusion,&quot; a spokesman said.

The hearing came a day after Trump`s former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, defied a subpoena to provide the Senate Intelligence Committee documents on his Russia ties.

It also came after The Washington Post reported that Trump had pressed his Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Michael Rogers to publicly deny any evidence of ties between his campaign and Russia.

Both refused, the Post said.&nbsp;

At a separate hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, Coats, who was appointed by Trump, sidestepped questions about the Post report.

&quot;I have always believed that given the nature of my position and the information which we share, it`s not appropriate for me to comment publicly on any of that,&quot; he said.

Brennan also meanwhile addressed news reports that Trump, in an Oval Office meeting this month with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador, shared highly classified information provided by a US ally about the Islamic State group.

If these reports are true, he said, Trump would have violated two intelligence protocols -- the need to share such information through established intelligence channels, and the need to warn the country which provided it, so as not to jeopardize sources or methods.

&quot;It appears, at least from the press reports, that neither did it go in the proper channels nor did the originating agency have the opportunity to clear language for it,&quot; Brennan said.

(AFP)

Brennan`s testimony before the House Intelligence Committee gave a much clearer view of how seriously US intelligence took the Russian threat

Former CIA director John Brennan said Tuesday he became increasingly concerned last summer over contacts between Donald Trump`s campaign officials and Moscow, as a Russian effort to interfere with the US presidential election became evident. Brennan`s testimony before the House Intelligence Committee gave a much clearer view of how seriously US intelligence took the Russian threat, and why the FBI began investigating it in July, well before the American public was aware of the allegations. "I encountered and became aware of information and intelligence that revealed contacts and interactions between Russian officials and US persons involved in the Trump campaign," Brennan said. "I know what the Russians try to do," he told the committee. "They try to suborn individuals and they try to get individuals, including US persons, to act on their behalf either wittingly or unwittingly." "Frequently, individuals on a treasonous path do not even realise they`re on that path until it gets to be too late," he added. Brennan said he delivered a stiff telephone warning to his Russian counterpart, the head of the FSB spy agency, against meddling in early August, two months before US intelligence chiefs went public with their belief that Russia was trying to manipulate the election in Trump's favour. "I said American voters would be outraged by any attempt to interfere in the election," Brennan said of the August 4 call. "I warned him that if Russia pursued this course, it would destroy any near-term prospect for improvement of relations and would undermine constructive engagement even on matters of mutual interest." Brennan did not cite the names of the Trump aides that US intelligence agencies had eyed for their Russia contacts. He also said that, when he stepped down from the CIA as Trump took office, he still did not know if there had been collusion. "By the time I left office on January 20, I had unresolved questions in my mind as to whether or not the Russians had been successful in getting US persons involved in the campaign or not to work on their behalf," he said. Nevertheless, he said, "It should be clear to everyone that Russia interfered in our 2016 presidential election process." "And that they undertook the activities despite our strong protests and explicit warning they not do so." Brennan's comments came as investigations by the Justice Department and several Congressional committees into Russian interference increasingly focus on several people tied to the president. A number of former Trump aides have been summoned to testify by Congress and a grand jury.After the former CIA chief spoke, the White House again denied any links to Moscow. "This morning`s hearings back up what we`ve been saying all along: that despite a year of investigation, there is still no evidence of any Russia-Trump campaign collusion," a spokesman said. The hearing came a day after Trump`s former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, defied a subpoena to provide the Senate Intelligence Committee documents on his Russia ties. It also came after The Washington Post reported that Trump had pressed his Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Michael Rogers to publicly deny any evidence of ties between his campaign and Russia. Both refused, the Post said. At a separate hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, Coats, who was appointed by Trump, sidestepped questions about the Post report. "I have always believed that given the nature of my position and the information which we share, it`s not appropriate for me to comment publicly on any of that," he said. Brennan also meanwhile addressed news reports that Trump, in an Oval Office meeting this month with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador, shared highly classified information provided by a US ally about the Islamic State group. If these reports are true, he said, Trump would have violated two intelligence protocols -- the need to share such information through established intelligence channels, and the need to warn the country which provided it, so as not to jeopardize sources or methods. "It appears, at least from the press reports, that neither did it go in the proper channels nor did the originating agency have the opportunity to clear language for it," Brennan said. (AFP)

Former CIA chief John Brennan warned Russian counterpart against meddling in US elections last year

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Ex-CIA chief condemns 'criminal' assassination of Iranian

Two more bombs sent to former US Vice President Biden, actor De Niro

Former CIA chief John Brennan warned Russian counterpart against meddling in US elections last year