Palm Beach, FL, February 8, 2008 … The Iranian regime continues to pose a serious threat to the security of the United States, Europe and the State of Israel, a top official with the U.S. Treasury Department told a meeting of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today.

Iran is "a serious threat, a threat that needs to be countered," Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert M. Kimmitt told members of ADL's National Executive Committee, convened in Palm Beach, Florida.  He called Tehran's uranium enrichment activities and ballistic missile development a "dangerous combination" that necessitates continued action by the United States and the world community.

"The Iranian regime disguises its involvement in proliferation and terrorism activities through an array of deceptive practices specifically designed to evade detection from the international community," Secretary Kimmitt said. "These deceptive practices are specifically designed to evade the risk-management controls put in place by responsible financial institutions and have allowed actions by Iranian banks to remain undetected as they move funds through the international financial system to pay for the regime's illicit activities."

Treasury plays an integral role in the Administration's Iran strategy through the use of targeted financial measures and preventing the regime's abuse and manipulation of the international financial system, Secretary Kimmitt said, adding that Iran continues to funnel millions of dollars to deadly terrorist organizations, and poses the greatest threat to Israel.

Of the recent National Intelligence Estimate, Secretary Kimmitt said that its conclusion that Iran halted nuclear weapon design work in 2003 does not mean that Tehran is no longer an imminent danger. He cited Iran's test earlier this week of a research rocket as "a reminder of the need for continued action, as well as vigilance in dealing with Iran."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.