Michael Hayden, the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency told The Washington Post that the al-Qaeda terrorist network was essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia and lost influence in other parts as well.

CIA Chief also said that Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, was loosing ground and the Iraq war started by the U.S. excuse was no longer capable to win over some new members. Moreover, the public opinion expresses its resentment toward jihadism.

This happens two years after the CIA informed that the Islamic group was using the war in Iraq as an efficient tool for propaganda.

Hayden optimistically added that the U.S’ actions against terrorists have been successful even at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, adding that it was believed that Bin Laden was in that area.

According to BBC, the CIA leader said that al-Qaeda suffered “significant setbacks globally.”

He still warned about the serious threat that al-Qaeda represented, but acknowledged that important progress has been made.

The top priority is still the capture or the killing of Bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Hayden also mentioned that the Iran has been interfering with the progress made in Iraq by funding and arming enemies.

“It is the policy of the Iranian government, approved at the highest levels of that government, to facilitate the killing of American and other coalition forces in Iraq. Period,” said Hayden according to BBC.