Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate hearing last week Iran is not building a nuclear weapon. (REUTERS/Leah Millis)
However, Trump’s threat of direct war on Tehran comes just after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard insisted last week Iran is not building a nuclear weapon – at least not yet.
"The IC [intelligence community] continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapon program that he suspended in 2003," Gabbard told a worldwide threat hearing held by the Senate Intelligence Community last week.
Experts believe Iran is enriching uranium to 60%, which puts it just below the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon, and have said there is no civilian use for 60% enriched uranium.
"The IC continues to monitor closely if Tehran decides to reauthorize its nuclear weapons program. In the past year we've seen an erosion in the decades-long taboo in Iran of discussing nuclear weapons in public, likely emboldening nuclear weapons advocates within Iran's decision making apparatus," Gabbard said.
She added that Iran’s uranium enrichment was "at its highest levels" and is "unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons."
The IC's annual threat assessment, released in conjunction with the hearing, predicted Iran would continue efforts to threaten U.S. citizens and conduct operations inside the U.S.
"Tehran will try to leverage its robust missile capability and expanded nuclear program, and its diplomatic outreach to regional states and U.S. rivals to bolster its regional influence and ensure regime survival," the report said. "However, regional and domestic challenges, most immediately tensions with Israel, are seriously testing Iran’s ambitions and capabilities."
The report detailed the "lethality" of Iran's missiles and UAV systems but said little else about the threat of Iran's nuclear program.
TRUMP THREATENS TO BOMB IRAN UNLESS THEY END NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM AND BEGIN TALKS ON NEW DEAL
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shows off its missiles in Iran. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA)
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
In his first term, Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal signed by then-President Barack Obama, deeming it a "bad deal" that did not curb Iran’s nuclear program.
He has already ordered his administration to bring "maximum pressure" back to Tehran, choking them financially from every lever of government.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-threatens-iran-over-nukes-dni-gabbard-claims-tehran-not-building-bombs