Gabbard and Trump Align on Iran’s Nuclear Threat
Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), stated on CNN that President Donald Trump shares her views regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the timeline surrounding them. She accused the media of misrepresenting her statement by not including her complete testimony.
During an interview, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins quoted Trump responding to Gabbard’s comments. She said that Gabbard had testified earlier in March, indicating that the intelligence community had assessed Iran as not currently developing nuclear weapons. Trump, however, dismissed this, insisting, “I think they were very close to having it.”
Gabbard later retweeted a message from CNN Capitol Hill reporter Sarah Ferris, emphasizing that she and Trump had echoed similar points in their March assessments. “What President Trump said aligns with my own statements in his annual threat assessment,” she noted, expressing frustration that many in the media don’t seem to actually read her comments.
In March’s congressional testimony, Gabbard detailed the intelligence community’s perspective on Iran’s nuclear threat, as highlighted by excerpts shared by DNI Deputy Chief of Staff Alexa Henning. She pointed out that the “Intelligence Community” believes Iran has not developed nuclear weapons and that the Supreme Leader, Khomeini, has not revived the nuclear weapons program that was halted back in 2003.
Still, she expressed that there are reasons for concern. “The discourse around nuclear weapons in Iran has changed, eroded by decades of taboos. Their uranium stockpile is now unprecedented for a non-nuclear state,” she said, which suggests a shift in the threat landscape.
On Tuesday, Gabbard reiterated to reporters that her views are consistent with Trump’s assessment. “What he’s saying reflects what I outlined in my testimony in March,” she pointed out.
Furthermore, tensions have been escalating following Iran’s announcement to create a third nuclear enrichment facility. Reports indicate that Iran may be in violation of non-proliferation obligations intended to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.
On the same day, as Israel launched a retaliatory strike against Iran, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
