Is Iran close to building a nuke? Trump says his intelligence community 'is wrong'
"My intelligence community is wrong."
With those words, Donald Trump waved away the advice of the entire US spy infrastructure — from the CIA, to the Defence Intelligence Agency, to the intelligence arms of the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force — and its assessment that Iran was not trying to build a nuclear weapon.
That assessment was presented to the US Congress in March by Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's hand-picked director of National Intelligence.
"The IC [intelligence community] continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon," Ms Gabbard said.
"Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorised a nuclear weapon program that he suspended in 2003."
On Wednesday, Donald Trump said simply, "She's wrong."
As is so often the case under Trump, what once would have been a breathtaking shattering of norms is just another day.
Trump's rejection of the intelligence community's advice has deep resonance in the United States, and particularly among Trump's MAGA base in the Republican Party.
Trump campaigned hard on keeping America out of foreign 'forever' wars like Iraq, based on faulty intelligence over Saddam Hussein's non-existent weapons of mass destruction.
It's why key figures in Trump's MAGA, America First base of support are dead against any US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict.
But there are influential old-school Republican Iran hawks, like Senator Lindsey Graham, who are pushing the president for regime change in Iran.
"Be all in, President Trump, in helping Israel eliminate the nuclear threat," Senator Graham said.
"If we need to provide bombs to Israel, provide bombs. If we need to fly planes with Israel, do joint operations.
"But here's the bigger question: Wouldn't the world be better off if the ayatollahs went away and were replaced by something better? Wouldn't Iran be better off?"
The two sides met head-on in a fiery exchange between media figure Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz, both firm Trump supporters.
"How many people live in Iran, by the way?" Carlson asked.
"I don't know the population at all," Cruz replied.
Carlson was incredulous. "You don't know the population you seek to topple?"
The big question is — which side is getting in the president's ear as he waits to decide on whether the US will attack Iran?
Tulsi Gabbard certainly appears to be on the outer.
Today, she took to X to try to repair the relationship with Trump.
"The dishonest media is intentionally taking my testimony out of context and spreading fake news as a way to manufacture division," she wrote.
"America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalise the assembly. President Trump has been clear that can't happen, and I agree."
The "missing" context was that Iran's enriched uranium stockpile was "at its highest levels, and is unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons".
She also testified that nuclear weapons advocates in the Iranian leadership were feeling "emboldened".
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also recently found that Iran has not been complying with weapons inspectors since 2019 — its first such finding in two decades.
In the end, none of that may matter.
Donald Trump has said he will decide in two weeks about whether to choose the military or diplomatic option.
He may be waiting to see which option is more likely to succeed — or which way the debate among his supporters goes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
US appeals court allows Trump control of National Guard in LA
A US appeals court on Thursday ruled that President Donald Trump could continue control of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump ordered the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines into Los Angeles this month in response to protests over federal immigration sweeps -- a move opposed by city leaders and Newsom. A lower court judge had last week ordered Trump to return control of the California National Guard to Newsom, saying the president's decision to deploy them to protest-hit Los Angeles was "illegal." But a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Trump was within his rights when he ordered 4,000 members of the National Guard into service for 60 days to "protect federal personnel performing federal functions and to protect federal property." "Affording appropriate deference to the President's determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalizing the National Guard," they said in their 38-page ruling. Trump celebrated the decision in a post on Truth Social Thursday night, calling it a "BIG WIN." "All over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done," Trump wrote. - 'Not a king' - The state of California had argued that Trump's order was illegal because it did not follow the procedure of being issued through the governor. The judges said Trump's "failure to issue the federalization order directly 'through' the Governor of California does not limit his otherwise lawful authority to call up the National Guard." But the panel said it disagreed with the defendants' primary argument that the president's decision to federalize members of the California National Guard "is completely insulated from judicial review." Governor Newsom responded to the decision saying Trump "is not a king and not above the law." "Tonight, the court rightly rejected Trump's claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court," he posted on X. "We will not let this authoritarian use of military soldiers against citizens go unchecked." Newsom added in a separate post on his personal X account "the fight doesn't end here", adding "we will press forward with our challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of US military soldiers against citizens." The state could request the case to be reheard, or it could petition the Supreme Court for intervention. - Immigration tensions - The ruling comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Los Angeles, which has become ground zero of Trump's immigration crackdown across the United States. The city has seen scattered violence but mostly peaceful protests in recent weeks, ignited by an escalation in federal immigration sweeps that have targeted migrant workers in garment factories, car washes and other workplaces. Local media reported further raids across the city on Thursday targeting Home Depot stores, a home improvement retailer where day laborers often gather in parking lots seeking work. The protests, though largely peaceful, saw sporadic and spectacular violence. Damage included vandalism, looting, clashes with law enforcement and several torched driverless taxis. Trump, who has repeatedly exaggerated the scale of the unrest, also sent 700 US Marines to Los Angeles despite the objections of local officials, claiming that they had lost control of the "burning" city. It was the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard over the wishes of a state governor. Trump appointed two of the judges on the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit panel, and former president Joe Biden appointed the third, the New York Times reported Thursday.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Japan scraps US meeting after defence demands
Japan has cancelled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally the US after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected to meet Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Washington on July 1 for annual security talks. But according to the Financial Times, Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the US asked Japan to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, higher than an earlier request of 3 per cent. Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday that President Donald Trump's government was demanding its Asian allies, including Japan, spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence. An unnamed US official told Reuters that Japan had "postponed" the talks in a decision made several weeks ago. A non-government source familiar with the issue said he had also heard Japan had pulled out of the meeting but not the reason for it doing so. The Financial Times said the higher spending demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, who has also recently upset another key US ally in the Indo-Pacific by launching a review of a project to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. In March, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said other nations do not decide Japan's defence budget after Colby called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China, during his nomination hearing. Japan and other US allies have been engaged in difficult trade talks with the United States over Trump's worldwide tariff offensive. The paper said the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting was also related to Japan's July 20 upper house elections, expected to be a major test for Ishiba's minority coalition government. Japan's move comes ahead of a meeting of the US-led NATO alliance in Europe next week, at which Trump is expected to press his demand that European allies boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Japan has cancelled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally the US after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected to meet Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Washington on July 1 for annual security talks. But according to the Financial Times, Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the US asked Japan to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, higher than an earlier request of 3 per cent. Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday that President Donald Trump's government was demanding its Asian allies, including Japan, spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence. An unnamed US official told Reuters that Japan had "postponed" the talks in a decision made several weeks ago. A non-government source familiar with the issue said he had also heard Japan had pulled out of the meeting but not the reason for it doing so. The Financial Times said the higher spending demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, who has also recently upset another key US ally in the Indo-Pacific by launching a review of a project to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. In March, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said other nations do not decide Japan's defence budget after Colby called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China, during his nomination hearing. Japan and other US allies have been engaged in difficult trade talks with the United States over Trump's worldwide tariff offensive. The paper said the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting was also related to Japan's July 20 upper house elections, expected to be a major test for Ishiba's minority coalition government. Japan's move comes ahead of a meeting of the US-led NATO alliance in Europe next week, at which Trump is expected to press his demand that European allies boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Japan has cancelled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally the US after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected to meet Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Washington on July 1 for annual security talks. But according to the Financial Times, Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the US asked Japan to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, higher than an earlier request of 3 per cent. Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday that President Donald Trump's government was demanding its Asian allies, including Japan, spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence. An unnamed US official told Reuters that Japan had "postponed" the talks in a decision made several weeks ago. A non-government source familiar with the issue said he had also heard Japan had pulled out of the meeting but not the reason for it doing so. The Financial Times said the higher spending demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, who has also recently upset another key US ally in the Indo-Pacific by launching a review of a project to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. In March, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said other nations do not decide Japan's defence budget after Colby called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China, during his nomination hearing. Japan and other US allies have been engaged in difficult trade talks with the United States over Trump's worldwide tariff offensive. The paper said the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting was also related to Japan's July 20 upper house elections, expected to be a major test for Ishiba's minority coalition government. Japan's move comes ahead of a meeting of the US-led NATO alliance in Europe next week, at which Trump is expected to press his demand that European allies boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Japan has cancelled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally the US after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected to meet Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Washington on July 1 for annual security talks. But according to the Financial Times, Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the US asked Japan to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, higher than an earlier request of 3 per cent. Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday that President Donald Trump's government was demanding its Asian allies, including Japan, spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence. An unnamed US official told Reuters that Japan had "postponed" the talks in a decision made several weeks ago. A non-government source familiar with the issue said he had also heard Japan had pulled out of the meeting but not the reason for it doing so. The Financial Times said the higher spending demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, who has also recently upset another key US ally in the Indo-Pacific by launching a review of a project to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. In March, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said other nations do not decide Japan's defence budget after Colby called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China, during his nomination hearing. Japan and other US allies have been engaged in difficult trade talks with the United States over Trump's worldwide tariff offensive. The paper said the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting was also related to Japan's July 20 upper house elections, expected to be a major test for Ishiba's minority coalition government. Japan's move comes ahead of a meeting of the US-led NATO alliance in Europe next week, at which Trump is expected to press his demand that European allies boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Bunker ‘did not exist': Aussie reporter's terrifying scramble for shelter in Israel amid missile threat
An Aussie journalist has spoken of the chilling moment she realised a bunker she'd been trying to seek shelter in 'did not exist' as Iran launched missiles at Israel amid the countries' ongoing, deadly conflict. Channel 7 Europe Correspondent Jacquelin Robson is in Israel reporting on the country's escalating conflict with Iran. Robson told Sunrise she was out filming with her crew when they received an alert to seek shelter after missiles were fired from Iran. She was forced to pull over and try to find somewhere to shelter, telling the program of the chilling moment she realised a bunker she'd been trying to take refuge in didn't exist. 'There were some locals who were calling us over to a bunker, and we soon discovered that that bunker did not exist,' Robson told Sunrise. 'The final siren then sounded, and we were forced to run to find shelter, and found some space between some buildings.' Sirens can be heard going off in the footage as Robson puts on a helmet, crouching down in a corner against a building. An explosion can be heard in the footage, with Robson saying it was the sound of a ballistic missile being intercepted. Israel last week attacked a string of Iranian nuclear and military sites, with missiles fired back and forth between the countries since. There have been reports of 224 deaths in Iran as a result of the deadly conflict. Israeli Military chief of staff Eyal Zamir on Friday warned the IDF was prepared for a 'prolonged campaign'. 'We have embarked on one the most complex campaigns in our history,' Mr Zamir said, according to SBS. 'We have embarked on a campaign to remove a threat of this magnitude and against such an enemy that requires readiness for a prolonged campaign. 'The IDF is prepared for this. 'Day by day, our freedom of action is expanding and the enemy's freedom of action is shrinking.' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday said the country was 'ready to consider diplomacy once again, once the aggression is stopped', SBS reported. 'In this regard, I make it crystal clear that Iran's defence capabilities are not negotiable,' Mr Araghchi said. He said Iran's nuclear program was 'peaceful'.
