US intelligence chief says Iran not rebuilding nuclear program, undermining Donald Trump’s war argument
US intelligence has concluded that Iran has not tried to rebuild the nuclear enrichment capability destroyed in last year’s US and Israeli strikes, which runs counter to one of President Donald Trump’s central claims for the current war, according to testimony given in Congress on Wednesday.Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said in prepared testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee that there had been “no effort” by Tehran to restore its enrichment capability following the June 2025 US strike, known as Operation Midnight Hammer.
Gabbard’s written testimony contradicts Trump’s original claim
“As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was destroyed,” Gabbard said in her prepared remarks.“Since then no efforts have been made to rebuild their enrichment capacity,” he said, according to news agency AFP.The assessment is significant because Trump has repeatedly argued that he ordered the latest joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran on February 28 because Tehran posed an “imminent threat” and was only weeks away from obtaining a nuclear bomb.The United Nations nuclear watchdog and many independent observers have not supported the claim that Iran was on the verge of building a bomb. The report also said Iran was in talks with Trump’s envoys on a possible deal in the days before the attack.
Gabbard avoids repeating assessment in open hearing
Even though this conclusion was included in her written testimony, Gabbard did not repeat it in her public comments before the cameras.When a Democratic senator pressed her on the issue, Gabbard said she did not have enough time during the hearing to read the entire testimony, but she did not dispute the written assessment.That added to the tension surrounding his appearance, with Democrats trying to gauge whether the intelligence community actually supports the administration’s public case for war.Gabbard repeatedly dodged questions about what intelligence she provided to Trump, frustrating Democratic senators who used the annual worldwide threats hearing to probe the basis for the growing conflict in the Middle East.When asked by Senator Mark Warner whether she had warned Trump that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz if attacked, Gabbard declined to discuss internal advice.“I have not and will not disclose internal conversations. I will say that those of us within the intelligence community will continue to provide the President with the best objective intelligence available to inform his decisions,” she said, as quoted by news agency AP.
Joe Kent’s resignation deepens investigation into White House Iran threat claims
Joe Kent’s resignation had already raised questions about the administration’s war logic. Kent stepped down as director of the National Counterterrorism Center on Tuesday, saying he could not in “good conscience” support an ongoing war in Iran and arguing that Tehran posed “no imminent threat” to the United States. Trump responded angrily, saying Kent was “very weak on security” and “it’s a good thing he’s out.” The President reiterated his stance that Iran is a serious threat, saying, “Iran was a threat – every country realized that,” and also said that officials who did not believe Iran was a threat were not people “we want” in the administration. The White House has since repeatedly rejected Kent’s claim, insisting that Trump had “strong and compelling evidence” that Iran was preparing to attack first.
CIA chief says Tehran negotiated in bad faith
While Gabbard’s written testimony cast doubt on the argument that Iran was rushing to rebuild its nuclear program, CIA Director John Ratcliffe took a hard line on Tehran’s intentions.Ratcliffe told senators that Iran was not serious in its diplomacy with Washington before the war.“It was very clear that Iran, when they were talking, had no intention of moving forward,” Ratcliffe said.Ratcliffe rejected the assessment of former National Counterterrorism Center head Joe Kent, who resigned this week and said Iran posed no imminent threat.“The intelligence indicates the contrary,” Ratcliffe told lawmakers.
Democrats are increasing pressure to justify the war
The hearings quickly became a major test of the administration’s case for the war.Democratic Senator Michael Bennet accused Trump of abandoning his own anti-intervention message.“President Trump said, we’re not the world’s policeman. He went on that,” Bennett said.He added, “Now he has made us the world’s policeman, its jury, its judge, its executioner.”Democrats also tried to use the hearing to pressure officials on the war’s broader consequences, including the risk that Iran could attack Gulf states or disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil and gas shipments.The hearing comes amid broader scrutiny of the administration’s conduct in the war, including over concerns over the investigation into a US missile attack that reportedly struck an elementary school in Iran and killed more than 165 people, with the White House saying the incident is being reviewed.
Gabbard says Iranian regime still intact, though weakened
Gabbard said the Iranian state remains in place despite damage caused by weeks of attacks.He told senators that the US intelligence community believes the regime is “intact but significantly weakened by attacks on its leadership and military capabilities.”His comments came even as he described the cumulative impact of the campaign as dire. The war also includes the assassination of Iran’s longtime supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Gabbard warned that if the current regime survives, it will likely attempt to restore its military strength over time.“If a hostile regime survives, it will likely want to begin a years-long effort to rebuild its army, missiles and UAV forces,” he said.
Pervasive Global Threats: Russia, Ukraine, and China
Beyond Iran, Gabbard used the hearing to paint a picture of the broader threat to the intelligence community.He said that Russia is still in the lead in the four-year war in Ukraine.“US intelligence assesses that Russia has maintained the lead in the war against Ukraine,” Gabbard said.He said that although US-led peace talks between Moscow and Kiev are continuing, Russia will continue to fight a slow-moving war until an agreement is reached.Gabbard also warned of the danger of an “escalating spiral” in Ukraine or elsewhere that could potentially lead to the use of nuclear weapons.On China, he said Beijing is rapidly modernizing its military with the long-term goal of seizing Taiwan, but the intelligence community believes China would still prefer to create conditions for eventual “peaceful reunification” without war.