Gabbard was questioned during the Senate intelligence hearing, she called Iran a threat.

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch | center square

(meaningful news) – Iran played a key role during the questioning of members of the Trump administration’s national security and intelligence team by the US Senate Intelligence Committee during its annual hearing on worldwide threats.

The hearing, held by a Senate committee on Wednesday, focused on President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran in Operation Epic Fury, now in its third week.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard found herself in the hot seat, answering heated questions from senators seeking answers on Operation Epic Fury and whether Iran poses an imminent threat to the US.

In her prepared witness statement, Gabbard argues that Iran, along with Russia, China, North Korea and Pakistan, is “researching and developing a range of new, advanced or conventional missile delivery systems with nuclear and conventional payloads that keep our homeland within range.”

He said the intelligence community “estimates that the threat to the homeland will collectively increase to more than 16,000 missiles by 2035, from the current estimated figure of more than 3,000 missiles.”

He said the Islamic Republic has “demonstrated space launch” technology, which the intelligence community believes it could use to develop “military-ready ICBMs before 2035.” However, since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, the assessment needs to be updated to determine the full impact of the attack, including its effects on missile production facilities, stockpiles, and launch capabilities.

The hearing between Gabbard and Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., became heated when he heard her comments on his prepared statement, which claimed that the Islamic Republic’s nuclear enrichment program was “destroyed” during last summer’s Operation Midnight Hammer, when the U.S. targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities. He further stated that “Since then no effort has been made to rebuild their enrichment capacity. The entrances to the underground facilities that were bombed have been buried with cement and sealed shut.”

Ossoff pressed the director, questioning whether there really is an imminent threat from the Islamic Republic as the President has argued.

Gabbard told senators, “Iran was attempting to recover from severe damage to its nuclear infrastructure…The intelligence community assessed that Iran maintained its intent to rebuild and continue its nuclear enrichment.”

Supporting Gabbard’s claim, CIA Director John Ratcliffe reiterated the White House’s stance that Iran is indeed an imminent threat to the US.

Ratcliffe was asked by Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, if there is any indication that Iran has ceased its “nuclear ambitions” or wishes to continue building ballistic missiles capable of threatening U.S. troops.

“No. In fact, intelligence suggests the opposite,” the director replied.

Despite the US striking several thousand targets in Iran and eliminating its top leadership, Gabbard says the regime “appears intact but largely degraded.” He said that even if the regime remains “intact”, it may face an uphill battle within its borders due to damage to the economy.

He warned that Iran and its proxies “are capable and will continue to attack” the US and allies in the region.

“If a hostile regime survives, it will want to begin a years-long effort to rebuild its missile and UAV forces,” he underlined.

The hearing comes a day after Joe Kent, the former director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, abruptly resigned after claiming Iran was not an “imminent threat”, prompting a sharp reaction between the administration and Republicans on the Hill, underscoring the Islamic regime’s intention to kill more Americans.

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