US intelligence revealed on Wednesday that Iran has not attempted to rebuild its nuclear enrichment program, destroyed in June 2025 by a joint US-Israel operation, which contradicts President Donald Trump’s justification for the ongoing war.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard offered mixed signals during her testimony. She appeared before Congress to discuss the outcomes of three weeks of war. Gabbard assessed that the Iranian leadership remains intact despite the recent military operations.
“As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated,” Gabbard stated in her prepared testimony. She referred to the US attack that occurred in June 2025. Furthermore, she wrote that officials see no efforts to rebuild that enrichment capability.
Contradicting the Administration
President Trump previously claimed he ordered the February 28 attack due to an “imminent threat.” He maintains that Tehran was only weeks away from a nuclear bomb. However, the UN nuclear watchdog does not support the finding of an imminent nuclear threat.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe told senators that Iran had no intention of following through on negotiations. Meanwhile, many Democrats attacked Gabbard over the necessity of the war. Senator Michael Bennet argued that Trump has turned the US into the world’s policeman.
Gabbard noted that the Iranian regime is currently degraded but still functioning. She warned that a surviving hostile regime will likely seek to rebuild its military and drone forces. Additionally, the intelligence community tracks significant threats regarding Russia and China.
The report suggests that Russia maintains the upper hand in its invasion of Ukraine. US-led negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv are ongoing. Meanwhile, China continues to modernize its military to prepare for potential action regarding Taiwan. Intelligence officials believe China still prefers a peaceful reunification over a direct military conflict, as President Trump plans to visit China soon after delaying the trip due to the Mideast war.
