Special to WorldTribune.com

Bill Gertz, Inside the Ring, Washington Times

As the Obama administration seeks to normalize relations with Iran by concluding a nuclear deal with Tehran, it was revealed this week that the Islamic republic has killed about 500 American soldiers via armor-piercing bombs.

During testimony Tuesday before the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed the U.S. deaths at the hands of Iranians under questioning from Sen. Tom Cotton. … “Hundreds of Americans died, and probably thousands were wounded or suspected of being wounded,” Mr. Cotton said. “What should we say to their families, the families who lost soldiers at the hands of Iranian militias or Iranian roadside bombs, once we reach a deal that’s going to give Iran tens of billions of dollars in sanctions relief and international legitimacy without them changing their behavior?”

Gen. Dempsey said the estimated number of soldiers killed by the Iranians is “about 500.” He then voiced concern about the Iranian threat that exists despite the push by the administration for a nuclear deal in Vienna.

In response to Cotton’s question, Gen. Dempsey said he has told the families of the soldiers who were casualties of Iranian attacks, that “solving the nuclear issue diplomatically is a positive outcome, but make no mistake about it there [are] at least five other malign activities in which Iran is engaged that cause me grave security concerns, and won’t take our eye off those five, and you know what they are: ballistic missiles, sea-based mines, cyber activities, arms trafficking and surrogates and proxies.”

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  Gen. Dempsey: Iran killed 500 U.S. troops, LIFE, WorldTribune.com