Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, Jun 18: In a bold dismissal of U.S. intelligence assessments, President Donald Trump contradicted his own national intelligence director, Tulsi Gabbard, by asserting that Iran is "very close" to acquiring a nuclear weapon, despite official reports stating otherwise.
The statement came during Trump’s return from the Group of Seven (G7) summit, where he cut short his schedule to focus on the growing conflict between Iran and Israel. “I don’t care what she said,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, referring to Gabbard’s earlier testimony.
Gabbard, who now serves as the Director of National Intelligence, had testified before Congress in March, affirming that Iran had not resumed its nuclear weapons program, which was suspended in 2003. “The intelligence community continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon,” she had stated, noting, however, that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile was at unprecedented levels for a non-nuclear-armed state.
The growing rift between Trump and his intelligence head echoes similar clashes during his previous term, where he frequently accused intelligence agencies of being part of a so-called "deep state." Notably, in 2018, he sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence findings regarding election interference.
Trump’s position aligns more closely with that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who views a nuclear-capable Iran as a critical threat to regional stability. The recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military sites have further fueled international anxiety.
While Gabbard later attempted to downplay the contradiction, stating on CNN that “President Trump was saying the same thing that I said,” her testimony remains on record, clearly stating that no new authorization for nuclear weapons development had been given by Iran’s Supreme Leader.
The divergence in views comes as General Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. forces in the Middle East, warned Congress that Iran could accumulate enough nuclear material for up to 10 weapons within three weeks, though he stopped short of confirming Iran’s capability to assemble a bomb.
A senior intelligence official added that Trump’s concerns were valid, given Iran's uranium enrichment activities that exceed civilian needs. However, Senate Intelligence Committee members, including Senator Mark Warner, asserted that there has been no new evidence contradicting Gabbard’s March testimony.
In a related move, Trump and Gabbard faced criticism over their handling of intelligence personnel, particularly after the dismissal of two veteran officers who challenged Trump’s narrative regarding Venezuelan migrants and the Tren de Aragua gang.
Despite the political controversy, the White House reaffirmed its stance. “President Trump took necessary and historic action to safeguard our nation,” read a statement attributed to Gabbard, emphasizing support for Trump’s security decisions amid criticism from what they described as “deep state actors.”
The evolving dynamics between Trump, intelligence agencies, and U.S. allies continue to shape both domestic political discourse and foreign policy decisions.