The Defense Department is modifying common access cards into personnel identity verification cards designed to help validate the identity of cardholders, Federal News Radio reported Friday.

Andy Seymour, DoD’s public key infrastructure manager, told Federal News Radio that DoD is about to issue directives that will give the services 18 months to unlock the PIV authentication certificate on CACs and begin using the new certificate for access.

“Our goal really is for joint interoperability across the entire government space, and not just DoD,” said Seymour.

He added that DoD also aims to optimize the security of contactless communication between CACs and the system as well as add encrypted certificates that will let users execute “tap-and-go” authentication.

Seymour noted that DoD is looking into various options to evolve CACs, including the use of multi-factor authentication tools and identity federation services.

James Mattis, Secretary of Defense, has said he expects to witness a lagging indicator that proves recent operations in Syria will diminish the number of recruits and foreign fighters joining the Islamic State militant group’s ranks, DoD News reported Friday.

Mattis answered inquiries at the Pentagon regarding topics involving South Asia, North Korea and Iran during an impromptu discussion with reporters.

He said the U.S. remains observant of illicit weapons activities in Iran and the illegal displays of missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and antitank weapons at the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.

The report noted Iran repeatedly violated United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 which tackles sanctions related to the country’s distribution of weapons and ballistic missile program.

The defense secretary also said U.S. and South Korea maintain close bonds and diplomatic efforts continue to attempt denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

He added U.S.-South Korean military exercises will push through after the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and the succeeding Paralympic games.

Senators and White House officials held a meeting Thursday to draft a possible bill that seeks to implement tougher restrictions on Iran and keep the U.S. in a 2015 nuclear deal with the Middle Eastern country, Reuters reported Friday.

Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, national security adviser under President Donald Trump’s administration, met with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tennessee) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) at the White House to discuss possible measures.

Those include the possible termination of a requirement that directs the U.S. president to recertify the nuclear deal every 90 days and amendments to “sunset provisions” that would enable the U.S. government to reimpose sanctions if Iran’s nuclear efforts escalate.

Lawmakers have initiated efforts to draft a bipartisan bill that would authorize the president not to reimpose sanctions on Iran’s oil products as the nuclear deal approaches another deadline this week.

The Treasury Department imposed sanctions Thursday on five Iran-based companies for their involvement in activities that support the country’s ballistic missile development program.

The White House on Thursday decided to impose a freeze on all security aid to Pakistan in response to the South Asian country’s refusal to quell terrorist groups, The New York Times reported Thursday.

The decision could suspend annual aid worth approximately $1.3 billion, which includes $1.1 billion in Coalition Support Funds the Defense Department provides to help cover counterterrorism-related costs in Pakistan.

The suspension includes a freeze on the delivery of U.S. military equipment to Pakistan but will not affect civilian support programs in the country.

“Pakistan has the ability to get this money back in the future, but they have to take decisive action,” said Heather Nauert, a spokeswoman for the State Department.

The State Department on Thursday also included Pakistan on a watch list of countries for religious freedom violations.

The measures came three days after President Donald Trump said in a Twitter post Monday that Pakistan offered a “safe haven” for terrorists that U.S. forces crack down in Afghanistan, the report added.