White House Statement Claims 'Iran Has A Robust, Clandestine Nuclear Weapons Program.' Changes It To 'Had' A Few Hours Later

White House published a statment in which it claimed Iran has a current clandestine nuclear weapons program. A short time later, without explanation, they released a new statment changing the tense to “had.” Here’s the original. pic.twitter.com/6ebOzyDH9u

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) May 1, 2018

CNN: White House claims 'clerical error' led to drastic change in Iran statement

Washington (CNN)A one-letter mistake on an official White House statement led to consternation and questions about official US policy toward Iran on Monday, and a quiet correction did little to quell the matter.

In the written statement sent to reporters around 7:30 p.m. ET, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders declared that newly unveiled Israeli intelligence proved "Iran has a robust, clandestine nuclear weapons program."

The declaration flew in the face of American intelligence determinations, which found Tehran froze its program following the Obama-era agreement to lift sanctions in exchange for curtailing its nuclear ambitions.

By 9:30 p.m. ET, the statement appeared differently online.

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Update: White House Iran Gaffe: Administration Rushes to Correct Claim Iran 'Has' Nuclear Weapons Program (Newsweek)

WNU Editor: To me ... the big story is that we now have proof that contrary to Iranian claims they had an active nuclear weapons program a few years back. But blaming this mistake on a clerical error ?!?!?! Guess what is now the big story for the U.S. media.