The testimony of the director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbardhas shaken the Senate Intelligence Committee. He stated that reports from his department assured that Iran was not in a position to attack the United States with intercontinental missiles before 2035. He added that “no changes were seen” in the situation before the war.
This information contradicts Donald Trump. Already in his State of the Union address on February 24, the president declared before Congress that Iranians are “terrible people.” He added that “they are building missiles that will soon reach the United States”.
The statement, issued by the White House on March 1, announced the operation Epic Fury as “a bold and necessary exercise… to eliminate the nuclear threat imminent that represents the Iranian regime.” The message highlighted that the negotiating effort of the Trump Administration had been despised by the ayatollahs.
Steve WitkoffTrump’s special envoy, went even further, saying that Iran was “probably one week to have industrial grade material to make bombs.” Everything indicated that war was inevitable.
Gabbard read her statement indicating that Iran “could combine” its technology space program with the ballistic capabilities to “start developing” intercontinental missiles “before 2035.” The bombings in June last year had caused notable delays in its nuclear program.
The Democratic senator from Georgia, John Ossoffasked the director if her service considered Iran as a imminent threat for the nation. Gabbard said it was not “the responsibility of the intelligence community to decide what is or is not an imminent threat.” He added that this decision “corresponded exclusively to the president“.
Asked about countries with nuclear potential against the United States, she responded that “China and Russia “They have systems capable of penetrating and overcoming US defenses.” He warned that North Korea It already had missiles capable of reaching America.
Señaló que, tras los bombardeos recientes, Irán ya no era una de las naciones con capacidad armamentística avanzada. Sin embargo, aseguró que sería preciso hacer un análisis detallado y actualizado para evaluar la situación.
Estas declaraciones se enmarcan en el contexto de la reciente dimisión de Joe Kent, director del Centro Nacional Antiterrorista, quien afirmó que “no podía, en conciencia, apoyar la guerra en Irán”. Sostuvo que Irán “no representaba una amenaza inminente” para EEUU y que el conflicto se inició por presiones de Israel y su lobby en Washington.
En su carta de renuncia acusó a altos cargos israelíes y a medios estadounidenses de haber llevado a Trump “por un camino peligroso”, convenciéndole de una guerra rápida y fácil. Su renuncia le convierte en el funcionario de inteligencia de mayor rango que rompe públicamente con la Administración por la guerra contra Irán.
El director de la CIA, John Ratcliffe, declaró igualmente ante el Comité. Le preguntaron si la Agencia consideraba que Irán estaría en disposición de atacar EEUU con misiles balísticos en menos de seis meses. Ratcliffe rehusó ofrecer datos concretos acerca de este extremo.
Aseguró que había “buenas razones para estar preocupados” por el desarrollo del programa nuclear iraní y afirmó que estaban “ganando experiencia”. Confirmó que el potencial balístico podría alcanzar territorio europeo, pero no con cabezas nucleares por el momento.
Leal al presidente Trump
Tulsi Gabbard nació en Leloaloa, Samoa Americana, hace 44 años. Sirvió en Irak como miembro de la Unidad Médica y alcanzó el grado de teniente coronel. Con 21 años fue elegida para la Cámara de Representantes estatal de Hawái por el partido demócrata. Congresista entre 2013 y 2021, fue precandidata a la presidencia en 2020.
Poco después, dejó a los demócratas para unirse a la campaña de Trump. Su figura política es controvertida: combina una retórica no intervencionista con la defensa de la guerra en Irán. Gabbard ha oscilado entre posiciones progresistas a favor de la legalización del cannabis o en contra de la vigilancia masiva y posturas conservadoras en política exterior.
De padre católico y madre hindú, se declara practicante de la tradición Vaishnava del hinduismo y contraria al “islamismo radical”. En 2024, el presidente electo la propuso para dirigir la comunidad de inteligencia que incluye la CIA, la NSA, el FBI y otras 15 agencias de seguridad.
His appointment followed a heated debate in the Senate over his lack of experience in the field of intelligence. Ultimately, it passed by a narrow margin.
His links with right-wing media, his support for trump and his defense that the function of intelligence is to “inform” while the president decides what is a threat have fueled doubts about his independence within the national security apparatus.
John Ratcliffe, of Mount Prospect, Illinois, is a republican politician 61 years old. Congressman between 2015 and 2020, he stood out for being one of the most combative allies of Donald Trump. He held the position of director of National Intelligence in the previous mandate.
Appointed director of the CIA in November 2024, he is the greatest defender of the thesis that China is the main rival US geopolitics. He has publicly supported the thesis that Iran has been a “constant threat.”