Former Intel Chief Contradicts Trump's Iran War Claims
US intel chief Gabbard testifies that Iran was not rebuilding enrichment prior to war, contradicting one of Trump's justifications for conflict.
Former US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard has testified that Iran was not rebuilding its nuclear enrichment capabilities prior to the heightened tensions that led to a near-war between the two countries. This contradicts one of the key justifications that President Trump has given for his decision to order the drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
Gabbard, who served as a Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, made the comments during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She stated that her assessment, based on intelligence briefings she received while in office, was that Iran had not been rebuilding its nuclear program in the months leading up to the Soleimani strike.
This directly undercuts one of the main rationales the Trump administration has provided for the targeted killing of Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force. The White House has claimed the strike was necessary to prevent an "imminent" attack being planned by Soleimani and Iran.
Source: Al Jazeera
