President Trump dismissed his own director of national intelligence’s assessment of Iran’s nuclear program during remarks aboard Air Force One early Tuesday morning, following his early departure from the Group of Seven summit in Alberta, Canada. He returned ahead of schedule to assess the U.S. response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
In March, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard testified before Congress that although Iran had accumulated an “unprecedented” stockpile of weapons-grade uranium, it did not appear to be actively constructing a nuclear weapon.
“I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having one,” Trump said in response to a direct question about Gabbard’s testimony.
Live updates: Trump considers U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran crisis.
Gabbard stated during her testimony that the U.S. intelligence community “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003.”
She added, “In the past year, we’ve seen an erosion of a decades-long taboo in Iran on discussing nuclear weapons in public, likely emboldening nuclear weapons advocates within Iran’s decision-making apparatus. Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is at its highest levels and is unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons.”
According to a report by The Hill on Tuesday, American intelligence assessments still indicate that Iran is not actively developing a nuclear weapon and is likely at least three years away from achieving launch capability. Israel, however, maintains that Iran is nearing a critical threshold, which it cites as justification for ongoing airstrikes.
Trump’s comments come as the White House weighs its options in the conflict. While the U.S. has other ways to support Israel, military experts say only American “bunker-buster” bombs could significantly damage Iran’s heavily fortified uranium enrichment facility currently in Israel’s crosshairs.
Gabbard, speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, defended her earlier remarks, claiming they aligned with the President’s view. “What President Trump is saying is the same thing I said in my annual threat assessment in March to Congress,” she insisted.
