U.S. sends mixed signals on Iran’s nuclear intentions

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly disputed the intelligence community's assessment of Iran's nuclear activities, marking a notable split between the White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East.

While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, Trump was asked whether he believed Iran was nearing the development of a nuclear weapon.

"Very close," the President responded.

The comment directly contradicts the position of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who testified before Congress in March that there is no evidence Iran has restarted its nuclear weapons programme, which the U.S. and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assess was halted in 2003.

"I don’t care what she said," Trump said when asked about the discrepancy. "I think they were very close to having one."

Gabbard's testimony stated that U.S. intelligence agencies had not seen indications that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had ordered the resumption of weaponisation efforts. Her assessment aligns with international watchdog findings, including recent IAEA reports.

However, President Trump’s remarks appeared to align more closely with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently warned that Iran is within months of developing a nuclear warhead, following Israeli airstrikes on facilities in Iran linked to missile and nuclear infrastructure.

A senior U.S. intelligence source told Reuters that the intelligence community’s assessment remains unchanged. According to the source, Iran could require up to three years to develop a fully deliverable nuclear weapon, though some experts suggest a basic device could be produced more rapidly, albeit without certainty of reliability.

The disagreement marks the first major public rift between Trump and Gabbard during his second term. While Gabbard has expressed alignment with several administration policies, this issue has exposed internal differences in approach and risk assessment.

The ODNI has not issued a formal rebuttal but referred to Gabbard’s earlier statements that she and the President are "on the same page," a remark made on Capitol Hill in response to press queries.

Meanwhile, Trump has increased his public pressure on Tehran, calling on Iranian leadership to "make a deal now" and warning of consequences if what he described as "nuclear escalation" continues.

Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is entirely civilian in nature. Despite concerns over its stockpile of enriched uranium, Iranian officials insist that no decision has been made to pursue a nuclear weapon.

The IAEA has confirmed that Iran has enriched uranium to 60% purity — far below the 90% needed for a weapon but above levels set in the 2015 nuclear deal. However, the agency has not reported any evidence of weaponisation efforts.

Copied