Gabbard had previously testified to Congress that the US intelligence community believed Iran was not developing a nuclear weapon. However, she later acknowledged on social media that Iran has the capability to produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months if they choose to do so.
The White House announced that Trump will be monitoring the situation in the Iran-Israel conflict over the next two weeks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified airstrikes on Iranian targets by claiming Iran was close to obtaining a nuclear warhead.
Iran has denied seeking nuclear weapons, maintaining that its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful purposes. Despite Gabbard’s assessment, US intelligence reports have not changed, suggesting it would take Iran up to three years to develop a warhead capable of hitting a target.
Some experts speculate that Iran could potentially build and deliver a crude nuclear device in a shorter timeframe, although its effectiveness would be uncertain. Trump’s skepticism towards US intelligence agencies and his disputes with them have been a recurring theme throughout his presidency.
Gabbard, a staunch supporter of Trump, has also raised concerns about internal opposition to his administration within US intelligence circles. The president’s past disagreements with intelligence assessments, particularly regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election, have been well-documented.
