Top StoryUS

Trump Rejects US Intel on Iran Nuclear Bomb Threat

Trump Rejects US Intel on Iran Nuclear Bomb Threat/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump dismissed intelligence reports asserting Iran isn’t building a nuclear weapon. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard testified there’s no active nuclear arms program in Iran. Trump insists Iran is “very close,” aligning with Israel’s threat assessment over U.S. spy agencies.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while flying aboard Air Force One en route from Calgary, Canada to Joint Base Andrews, Md., late Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Iran Nuclear Threat Quick Looks

  • Trump disputes U.S. intel, claims Iran is nearing nuclear bomb capability
  • Gabbard’s testimony: No evidence Iran resumed nuclear weapons program
  • CIA & intelligence agencies: Closely monitor enriched uranium levels
  • Trump returns from G7 to strategize U.S. response to Iran-Israel tensions
  • Echoes past rifts: Trump again clashes with intel community on foreign threats
  • Upcoming hearing: Gabbard, CIA Director Ratcliffe to face lawmakers
  • Trump hardliners support aggressive stance, despite intelligence conclusions
  • Possible military action looms amid diverging narratives in Washington
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard departs following a closed door meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines Monday, June 2, 2025. (Ezra Acayan/Pool Photo via AP)

Deep Look: Trump Dismisses US Intelligence on Iran’s Nuclear Program

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2025 — In a stark public rejection of his own intelligence community, President Donald Trump dismissed assessments from National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who told Congress this year that Iran is not currently building a nuclear weapon.

Speaking aboard Air Force One while returning early from the G7 summit, Trump asserted, “I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having one.” His comments come as the U.S. deliberates deeper involvement in Israel’s widening conflict with Iran.

Trump’s statement directly contradicts both U.S. and international intelligence. Gabbard, a former Democrat and Trump appointee, had testified that Iran’s nuclear program remains dormant and that its leadership has not revived weapons development.

Despite this, Trump emphasized Iran’s nuclear threat, aligning his position with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long-standing view that Iran is on the verge of becoming a nuclear-armed state. Netanyahu recently stated that a nuclear-capable Iran is an existential threat to Israel.

Trump Returns to Situation Room for Iran Briefing
Upon landing in Washington, Trump was expected to convene a high-level national security meeting in the White House Situation Room. The president has reportedly grown increasingly skeptical of diplomacy, even as some White House officials floated the idea of re-engaging Iran in direct talks.

This latest intelligence feud mirrors previous tensions from Trump’s first term. In 2018, he publicly sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence findings regarding election interference. His growing mistrust of intelligence agencies has become a recurring theme.

Spy Agencies Say Iran Is Not Building a Bomb
An unclassified intelligence report from March reaffirmed that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon, though it continues to accumulate enriched uranium and test advanced centrifuges. The International Atomic Energy Agency has also warned that Iran has enough uranium stockpiled to produce several bombs if it chooses, but has found no current intent to build one.

Gabbard Set to Testify Again
Tulsi Gabbard is scheduled to testify in closed session Tuesday alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Lawmakers are expected to press both on the administration’s response to Iran, Gabbard’s earlier claims, and Trump’s public comments.

Internal Disputes Over Trump’s Direction
Gabbard previously fired two senior intelligence officials who disagreed with a Trump-backed deportation plan involving Venezuela. Critics say this, along with her downplaying Iran’s threat, reflects growing political pressure on intelligence reporting.

Implications for U.S. Policy
Trump’s rejection of U.S. intelligence on Iran may foreshadow a more aggressive military stance, especially as Trump faces internal and external criticism over perceived contradictions between his isolationist campaign promises and his handling of foreign conflicts.

As one senior Republican aide noted, “He’s not ignoring intelligence—he’s just going with the version that supports action.”


More on US News

Previous Article
Trump’s Influence Looms over Pivotal Virginia Governor Primary
Next Article
Capitol Police Warn Rising Threats to Congress Members

How useful was this article?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this article.

Latest News

Menu