Gabbard Reaffirms Stance on Iran’s Nuclear Development Amid Speculation

Tarsi Gabbard, the US National Intelligence Director, stated that she and President Donald Trump remain aligned on issues regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons development, despite some speculation about a disagreement following Trump’s dismissal of a previous assessment in March.

During her testimony before Congress on March 26, 2025, Gabbard contended that US intelligence did not believe Iran was currently pursuing nuclear weapons. She pointed out that Supreme Leader Khamenei has not given the green light for a weapons program and noted that Iran’s uranium stockpile levels have hit record highs for states without nuclear arms, emphasizing, “Iran has not built nuclear weapons.”

“The [Intelligence Community] continues to assess that Iran has not developed nuclear weapons, and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not allowed the nuclear weapons program that was halted in 2003,” Gabbard testified.

Though Gabbard raised alarms about potential calls for nuclear expansion in Iran, she acknowledged the substantial quantities of enriched uranium Iran possesses. She pointed out ongoing public discussions in Iran about nuclear weapons that were once taboo, indicating a shift in the country’s public discourse.

“In the past year, we’ve seen a significant increase in discussions about nuclear weapons in public spaces, which is unprecedented,” she noted, adding, “Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is at its highest levels for non-nuclear states.”

“Iran continues to push for greater influence in the Middle East, even amidst conflicts like the recent Gaza situation. They are actively developing ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs capable of targeting regional allies,” she added, citing concerns about Iran’s cyber activities that could threaten US networks.

Trump faced questions about Gabbard’s assessments, particularly during a flight on Air Force One. In response to a query regarding her statement from March, he remarked, “I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having [nuclear weapons].”

In a somewhat contradictory reaction, Gabbard addressed Trump’s comments, stating, “What he expressed was consistent with what I stated in the annual threat assessment in March. It’s unfortunate that many in the media seem uninterested in accurately reporting my statements.”

As tensions rise, Trump is considering whether the US should escalate its involvement following Israel’s recent military actions against Iran. Thus, the dynamics between the president and his intelligence director are currently under scrutiny.

Gabbard reiterated that she and Trump are “on the same page” regarding Iran’s nuclear timeline, asserting that he shared her views from earlier assessments. “Unfortunately, many people in the media don’t seem to pay attention to what I’ve said,” she commented.