The top intelligence official in the US said on Wednesday that the Iranian regime was intact but largely degraded. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and other top Trump administration officials testified at a congressional hearing for more than two hours about worldwide threats to the US. It was the first public briefing on intelligence since the war began in late February and came one day after a top counterterrorism leader resigned saying Iran had not posed an imminent threat to the US. Gabbard, who coordinates the country's intelligence operations, also said that the US had anticipated trouble in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping channel. The IC [intelligence community] assesses the regime in Iran appears to be intact, but largely degraded due to attacks on its leadership and military capabilities, she said. Appearing alongside the heads of the CIA, FBI, National Security Agency, and Defense Intelligence Agency, Gabbard declined to answer when asked repeatedly by Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, about whether she had viewed Iran as an imminent threat. The only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the president, she said. Since the war began, lawmakers and commentators from both parties have questioned why the US struck the Islamic Republic and if the Trump administration was aware of potential problems in the Strait of Hormuz on the southern coast of Iran. President Donald Trump has said the US attacked largely because Iran was developing nuclear weapons, which threatened the US and Israel.
US Intelligence Assessment: Iran's Regime Remains Intact But Degraded
US Intelligence Assessment: Iran's Regime Remains Intact But Degraded
During a congressional hearing, US intelligence officials, including Tulsi Gabbard, stated that while the Iranian regime is still operational, it suffers from significant degradation due to military attacks and internal challenges.
US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, reported that while the Iranian regime is intact, it has been largely degraded by ongoing attacks. This statement came during a congressional hearing addressing global threats faced by the US since the onset of conflict involving Iran. Gabbard emphasized that the Iranian military capabilities have been notably diminished, especially in light of attacks aimed at its nuclear infrastructure. Contradictory views emerged among intelligence officials regarding the immediacy of the threat posed by Iran.
