U.S. President Donald Trump publicly pushed back against his Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, on Friday, asserting that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon, directly contradicting intelligence assessments she shared earlier this year.
"She's wrong," Trump said, speaking to reporters at Morristown Airport in New Jersey. The comment referred to Gabbard's March testimony before Congress, where she reiterated the intelligence community's long-standing assessment that Iran was not actively building a nuclear warhead.
Gabbard, a vocal Trump ally and former Democratic congresswoman, had maintained that U.S. agencies found no evidence of an active nuclear weapons program in Tehran. Her office has previously highlighted statements indicating alignment with Trump on the issue.
Trump's remarks, however, reflect a growing divergence within his national security team, as regional tensions intensify. The president also noted that he would consider U.S. involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict "over the next two weeks."
Israeli strikes continue amid nuclear concerns
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ramped up military operations against Iranian military and nuclear-linked facilities, citing intelligence that Tehran was "on the verge" of developing a warhead. Israeli airstrikes over the past week have targeted suspected Iranian missile and uranium enrichment sites.
Iran denies pursuing nuclear arms, asserting that its program is for peaceful, civilian purposes.
Disputed assessments
A U.S. intelligence source speaking to Reuters said the agencies' judgment, as presented by Gabbard, remains unchanged. According to those assessments, Iran would need up to three years to build and deliver a reliable nuclear warhead capable of reaching a strategic target.
However, independent analysts note that Iran could likely produce a basic, untested nuclear device much sooner, though with no guarantee of functionality or delivery capability.
A familiar rift with U.S. intelligence
Trump's rejection of Gabbard's briefing underscores his ongoing scepticism toward U.S. intelligence agencies. The president has long accused segments of the national security establishment of political bias, often referring to a "deep state" effort to undermine his administration — claims his critics say are unsubstantiated.
During his first term, Trump repeatedly clashed with intelligence officials, notably over their assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 election. At times, he appeared more aligned with foreign leaders' denials — particularly Russian President Vladimir Putin — than with U.S. intelligence findings.
Despite the current dispute, Gabbard remains one of Trump's most loyal appointees, often echoing his critiques of internal resistance and bureaucratic obstruction. As the Iran-Israel conflict unfolds, her role in shaping the administration's response will remain pivotal, even as the president signals he may be charting his own path forward.
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One hundred years after the First World War and more than eighty years after the devastation of the Second World War gave rise to the United Nations, humanity once again finds itself living in an age of permanent crisis.
Flights arriving at Catania airport in eastern Sicily were suspended after volcanic ash from a new eruption of Mount Etna drifted into the airspace around the airport, disrupting operations at one of Italy’s busiest aviation hubs.
For months, efforts to secure the Red Sea have focused on what is happening in the water. Naval deployments have increased, governments have expanded maritime cooperation and shipping companies have adapted to persistent security threats.
Greenland has issued a “strong warning” to a U.S. oil company linked to President Donald Trump after drilling equipment was brought ashore without the required government approvals, according to British media.
Iran said it was nearing a final pact with Oman defining new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz but repeated that the U.S. must meet other conditions.
Kyrgyzstan has proposed hosting part of Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries’ warehouse and logistics network, aiming to reduce supply-chain risks and strengthen trade with Russia.
North Korea has deployed troops, weapons and now, according to a Ukrainian intelligence official, a missile unit to support Russia's war against Ukraine, marking Pyongyang's most significant involvement in a war since the 1950s.
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A criminal court in Damascus has sentenced former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for premeditated murder, torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA.
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