Avril Haines

Actors with Iranian ties are “posing as activists online, seeking to encourage protest, and even providing financial support to protesters,” Avril Haines said.

The 67-year-old will be the first African-American to lead the Pentagon. Avril Haines, 51, is the first female director and Jewish person to lead the U.S. intelligence community.

U.S. Secretary of State nominee Tony Blinken said America should not lift terrorism sanctions on Tehran or unfreeze its assets in order for the Islamic Republic to come to the negotiating table. He also affirmed that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital and that the U.S. embassy will stay put.

While Middle East analysts say Biden is building a team of people in whom he trusts, can rely on and can work together as a team, a good deal of concern centers on whether U.S. foreign policy will look too much like it did during the Obama administration.