New Delhi, Mar 19: US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declined to endorse President Donald Trump’s assertion that Iran posed an “imminent threat” before the recent conflict, during testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, the BBC reported.
Under questioning from Democratic lawmakers, Gabbard repeatedly avoided directly stating whether she believed Iran posed an immediate danger prior to US strikes, saying that determining such a threat was ultimately the president’s responsibility. The exchange highlighted growing scrutiny over the rationale for the war, now entering its third week.
In her testimony, Gabbard said the Iranian regime remains “intact but largely degraded” following attacks on its leadership and military capabilities. She added that US intelligence agencies had long anticipated potential disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route.
The hearing marked the first public intelligence briefing since the conflict began and came amid signs of dissent within Trump’s Republican Party. A day earlier, former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent resigned, stating Iran had posed “no imminent threat” to the United States. However, John Ratcliffe told lawmakers he disagreed, saying Iran had long been a threat and posed an “immediate” risk at the time of the strikes.
Gabbard also said US and Israeli military actions had “largely destroyed” Iran’s military capabilities and significantly damaged its nuclear infrastructure, though she did not repeat earlier written claims that the programme had been “obliterated.”
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