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.
Texas has halted new funding for construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a major policy shift after four years of investment in one of Governor Greg Abbott’s flagship immigration initiatives.
Our NewsHour presenter Guy Shone examined the geopolitical ripple effects of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran during the G7 summit, where U.S. President Donald Trump’s early exit drew worldwide attention.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Tuesday that Japan and the United States have not reached a comprehensive tariff agreement, with key disagreements persisting between the two economic powers.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced the end of a curfew imposed on downtown Los Angeles following last week's Anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests, citing its success in maintaining order.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that the U.S. knows “exactly” where Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is located, adding that he is “safe for now” but stressing that Washington’s “patience is wearing thin.”
The question of whether the United States will join Israel militarily through direct troop deployments has become one of the most pressing foreign policy issues of 2025.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has alleged that Meta Platforms offered signing bonuses as high as $100 million to OpenAI employees in an attempt to recruit top talent, underscoring the intensifying competition among tech firms for artificial intelligence expertise.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 18th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The UK has intensified economic pressure on Russia by announcing a new wave of sanctions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced 30 new measures which target key areas of Russia’s financial, military, and energy sectors, in response to President Volodymyr Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Iranian state television on Tuesday called on citizens to delete WhatsApp from their smartphones, without providing specific evidence, claiming that the Meta-owned messaging platform was collecting user data to send to Israel.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
South Korea and Japan have agreed to deepen their cooperation with the United States in addressing regional security challenges, including North Korea, during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, according to local media reports.
Canada has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid travel to parts of the Middle East, citing heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. The warning comes amid ongoing military exchanges that have raised fears of broader regional instability.
Flights to Indonesia’s popular resort island of Bali faced widespread disruption on Wednesday after Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted, spewing ash high into the atmosphere and prompting emergency measures in surrounding regions.
At the G7 summit Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced sweeping new sanctions on Russia and accused Iran of fueling instability in the Middle East, while reaffirming Canada’s multi-billion-dollar support for Ukraine.
The question of whether the United States will join Israel militarily through direct troop deployments has become one of the most pressing foreign policy issues of 2025.
The question of whether the United States will join Israel militarily through direct troop deployments has become one of the most pressing foreign policy issues of 2025.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has alleged that Meta Platforms offered signing bonuses as high as $100 million to OpenAI employees in an attempt to recruit top talent, underscoring the intensifying competition among tech firms for artificial intelligence expertise.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 18th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The UK has intensified economic pressure on Russia by announcing a new wave of sanctions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced 30 new measures which target key areas of Russia’s financial, military, and energy sectors, in response to President Volodymyr Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Iranian state television on Tuesday called on citizens to delete WhatsApp from their smartphones, without providing specific evidence, claiming that the Meta-owned messaging platform was collecting user data to send to Israel.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment