US president Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed reports from his own intel chief, who said Iran wasn't building a nuclear weapon.
When asked about a public statement from director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard—who testified that Iran was not building a bomb—Trump replied: “I don’t care what she said.”
He insisted that Iran was “very close” to building a nuclear weapon and aligned himself more with Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu than with his own national security briefings.
The US intel
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat lawmaker and military veteran, was confirmed as Trump’s new intelligence chief earlier this year. In March, she told Congress: “The intelligence community continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and supreme leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003.”
She also noted that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile had reached record levels for a country without nuclear weapons, and that the US was monitoring the situation closely.
However, Gabbard later said Trump’s remarks did not contradict her position. She claimed both were “on the same page”, blaming the media for stirring confusion.
Not the first time
This is not the first time Trump has challenged conclusions of US spy agencies. In 2018, he drew criticism for siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin over US intelligence on election interference.
Now, in his second term, Trump is once again rejecting official intelligence findings—even though this time, his administration is filled with loyal allies, unlike his first term when he accused officials of being part of a “deep state.”
Others take
US military commanders have raised concerns about Iran’s capabilities. Accordin to news agency Associated Press, Gen. Erik Kurilla told lawmakers that Iran could produce enough nuclear material for ten bombs within three weeks—but he did not say how long it would take to build an actual weapon.
Other unnamed officials in the administration suggested Trump’s concerns were not entirely misplaced. They pointed out that Iran’s uranium enrichment levels go far beyond civilian use. One senior figure said Iran was “as close as it can be without having one.”
Even the International Atomic Energy Agency has noted that Iran has enough enriched uranium for several bombs if it chooses to make them. However, Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are peaceful.
Latest Israel-Iran conflict
Israel launched a major military operation against Iran last Thursday, targeting its nuclear facilities and top military officials. Israel has warned it will not stop until Iran’s nuclear capabilities are fully dismantled. Iran hit back with missile attacks of its own, raising tensions further across the region.
US President Donald Trump is now weighing a possible direct attack on Iran’s underground nuclear site in Fordow.
