Trump Disputes Intel on Iran Nuclear Program, Sides with Israel

⁤ Updated ⁤June 21, 2025

President Donald Trump publicly disagreed with⁢ his⁢ own ⁣director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, over⁣ Iran’s nuclear ambitions, asserting that the intelligence community was “wrong.” Gabbard had testified that Iran was not actively building a nuclear weapon and that⁣ Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had not restarted the contry’s suspended nuclear weapons program. This‍ clash⁤ highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the Iran nuclear program and the US foreign⁢ policy in the Middle east.

Trump’s comments followed his earlier skepticism regarding⁢ Gabbard’s ‍report to Congress, where she reiterated the intelligence ⁤community’s assessment. ⁣He told reporters that he “didn’t care” that the intelligence contradicted his own claims that Iran was in the late stages of developing a⁢ nuclear weapon.The president’s stance underscores a potential shift in ⁤ international relations and the U.S. approach⁢ to the ⁢conflict.

When pressed on ⁣what intelligence he ⁢had that Iran was building a ⁤nuclear ⁤weapon, Trump responded, ‍”Then my intelligence ‍community is wrong.” He specifically called out ‍Gabbard, saying, ‍”She’s wrong.”

Gabbard later appeared to defend Trump, stating in a social media post that “America has⁢ intelligence that iran is at the point that it ‍can ‍produce a‍ nuclear weapon within⁣ weeks⁢ to months,⁤ if they⁢ decide ⁣to‍ finalize the assembly.” She added, “President Trump⁣ has been clear that can’t happen, and ⁢I agree.”

However, her statement did not contradict her⁣ earlier assessment that‍ Iran is not currently building a weapon. No known U.S.intelligence ⁢assessment concludes that⁤ Iran is weaponizing its nuclear program.

Critics have accused Trump‍ of disregarding evidence to justify‍ potential U.S. involvement in the ‍conflict between Iran and Israel. Marwan Bishara, a senior political analyst, called ⁢Trump’s dismissal of the entire intelligence‍ community “astounding.”

Trump also downplayed the prospect of ⁣the⁣ U.S. brokering a ⁤ceasefire agreement⁣ between Iran and Israel, saying he “might” ⁤support such a deal but adding, “israel’s doing well in⁤ terms of ⁤war,‍ and I think you would say that Iran is ⁣doing less well.”

“It’s hard to make that request right now. When someone’s winning, it’s ⁤harder than ⁣when they’re losing,”⁣ Trump ⁤said.

Trump ‍indicated he would take ‍two⁣ weeks to decide on the U.S.⁤ response to ⁢the conflict, a decision experts believe could be transformative. The U.S. is seen as one of⁤ the few countries with the leverage to pressure Israel to de-escalate.

U.S. military involvement ⁤is considered key to Israel’s goal of dismantling⁣ iran’s nuclear program, notably the destruction of the underground⁣ Fordow enrichment plant. Such an attack would require specialized U.S. weaponry.

Trump also dismissed the potential for European⁣ countries to de-escalate the⁣ situation, hours after Iranian Foreign ⁤Minister Abbas Araghchi met with European diplomats in Geneva. “Europe is not going to be able to help,” Trump said.

What’s next

The next two weeks ⁤will be critical as President Trump weighs the U.S. response ‍to the escalating conflict between iran and Israel. His ⁤decision could significantly alter the trajectory of the region and the future‍ of the Iran nuclear program.