US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a congressional hearing that Iran’s governing system remains intact but has been severely weakened following recent US and Israeli attacks. The hearing, lasting over two hours, marked the first public intelligence briefing since the Iran war began in late February. Gabbard testified alongside the heads of the CIA, FBI, NSA, and Defense Intelligence Agency, stating that US intelligence had anticipated tensions in the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict.

The session followed the resignation of National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, who argued that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States. President Donald Trump, however, defended the strikes, claiming Iran was developing nuclear weapons that endangered the US and Israel. CIA Director John Ratcliffe disagreed with Kent, asserting that Iran remains an immediate threat. Gabbard’s written statement indicated that Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was devastated by the 12-day war in June 2025, though she omitted that section during her oral testimony.

Lawmakers questioned whether intelligence officials were present when Trump decided to attack Iran and whether the administration had prior warnings about possible Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz.