DNI Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate she wouldn’t assess Iran’s nuclear threat as "imminent," deferring to the president, despite U.S. strikes and Iran’s plans to rebuild enrichment.

On March 18, 2026, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee she would not confirm whether Iran posed an "imminent" nuclear threat, stating only the president can make that determination. She acknowledged Iran intends to rebuild its nuclear enrichment capabilities despite recent U.S. strikes that degraded its military and leadership. Gabbard defended President Trump’s decision to launch the campaign, emphasizing intelligence agencies provide information, not threat judgments. The testimony followed criticism over the war’s justification and the resignation of National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, who stepped down alleging Israeli influence, though Gabbard maintained presidential authority over threat assessments.