US intel chief Gabbard says Iran was not rebuilding enrichment prior to war
Al Jazeera
Gabbard’s testimony contradicts one of several justifications US President Trump has given for launching war with Iran.
Washington, DC – Tulsi Gabbard, the director of US National Intelligence, said that the United States intelligence community had assessed that Iran was not rebuilding its nuclear enrichment capabilities following US and Israeli attacks last year.
The revelation on Wednesday appeared to undercut one of President Donald Trump’s key justifications for joining Israel in launching the latest war against Iran.
Trump and his top officials have repeatedly cited Iran’s nuclear ambitions as one of the main reasons for abandoning ongoing diplomatic talks in favour of military action.
“As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer,” Gabbard said in written testimony to the Senate intelligence committee, referencing the June 2025 US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, “Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated”.
“There have been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability,” Gabbard said in the written testimony.
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