Despite Gabbard's assertions to the contrary, the president's remarks represent a curt dismissal of his intelligence chief's sworn testimony - and could be an indication that Iran hawks are gaining the upper hand in the White House. Those who believe Iran is close to a bomb - including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Iran hawks in Congress and the Israeli government - cite last week's determination by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran was in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty for the first time in 20 years. Doubts about the veracity of those intelligence findings, as well as the unpopular, expensive and bloody US occupation of Iraq that produced no evidence of weapons of mass destruction, led to Democratic electoral gains in subsequent elections and growing internal dissent among Republicans.
Published at: 2025-06-18 22:40:36
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