U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s earlier claim that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon, saying Friday, “She’s wrong.” Speaking in Morristown, New Jersey, Trump pushed back against Gabbard’s March testimony to Congress, in which she cited U.S. intelligence assessments indicating Iran was not pursuing a nuclear bomb.
Gabbard responded on social media platform X, clarifying her stance, stating that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon “within weeks to months” if it chose to proceed. She accused the media of misrepresenting her testimony and emphasized alignment with Trump’s firm stance against Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Tensions have escalated following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s justification of recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, claiming Tehran is close to developing a warhead. Iran continues to deny any intent to build nuclear weapons, insisting its uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes.
Despite Gabbard’s recent remarks, U.S. intelligence sources maintain that their assessment has not changed. They believe Iran would need up to three years to develop a nuclear warhead capable of hitting a target. However, some analysts warn that Iran could create a crude, untested device much sooner, though its effectiveness would be uncertain.
Gabbard, a known Trump ally, has previously criticized elements of the intelligence community, echoing Trump’s belief in the existence of a "deep state." Trump has a history of challenging U.S. intelligence, including their conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
The White House stated that Trump will consider U.S. involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict in the coming weeks. The debate over Iran's nuclear capabilities continues to shape U.S. foreign policy and global security discussions.