US-Israeli Strikes ‘Largely Degrade’ Iran, But Regime Remains Intact, Intelligence Director Says
The Iranian regime has been “largely degraded” by ongoing U.S. And Israeli strikes, but remains intact, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. The assessment comes amid ongoing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence.
Iran’s Nuclear Program Status
Gabbard stated that Iran’s uranium enrichment program had been “obliterated” in 2025 strikes and has not resumed enrichment activities. CBS News and The Guardian both reported on this assessment.
Strategic Success of US Strikes
According to Gabbard, the American strikes against Iran were a strategic success, “largely destroying” Iran’s conventional military projection capabilities. The Guardian reported that she emphasized this point during her testimony.
Resignation of Counterterrorism Chief
The hearing took place shortly after Joseph Kent, the head of the U.S. Counterterrorism service, resigned in protest of the war with Iran. Kent stated that “Iran was not an immediate threat to our nation, and we started this war because of pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” The Independent detailed Kent’s scathing resignation letter.
Earlier Justifications and Conflicting Statements
President Donald Trump initially justified the February 28 strikes on Iran by citing an “imminent threat.” However, his statements regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities have shifted. While he initially claimed the strikes completely destroyed Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, he later stated that Tehran was only weeks away from developing a nuclear weapon.
Regime Stability and Future Outlook
Despite the damage inflicted, Gabbard stressed that the Iranian regime remains operational. She indicated that if the regime survives, it will likely focus on rebuilding its military, missile, and drone forces. The intelligence community assesses the regime as “intact but largely degraded” due to attacks on its leadership and military capabilities. CBS News reported on this assessment.
Concerns Over Election Interference
During the hearing, Senator Mark Warner raised concerns about the omission of attempts by adversaries to influence U.S. Elections from Gabbard’s report, noting it was the first time this had occurred since 2017. Warner stated that the omission did not necessarily indicate the threat had disappeared, but rather that the intelligence community may have been restricted from discussing it openly.