Jon Ossoff Presses Tulsi Gabbard – Iran’s Nuclear Enrichment Program
Jon Ossoff: No, you’re evading a question because to provide a candid response to the committee would contradict a statement from the White House as a result of last summer’s airstrikes, quote, Iran‘s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated, end quote, correct?
Tulsi Gabbard: That’s Right.
Assessment of the Intelligence Community on Iran Enrichment Program
Jon Ossoff: Is that in fact the assessment of the intelligence community?
Tulsi Gabbard: Yes.
Jon Ossoff: So the assessment of the intelligence community is that Iran‘s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated by last summer’s airstrikes?
Tulsi Gabbard: Yes.
What the White House Stated on Iran Continued Enrichment Capability
Jon Ossoff: The opening statement you submitted to the committee last night also stated, quote, there has been no effort since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability, end quote, correct?
Tulsi Gabbard: That’s right.
Jon Ossoff: That’s the assessment of the intelligence community.
Tulsi Gabbard: Yes.
White House Statement March 1st 2026 Iran Imminent Nuclear Threat
Jon Ossoff: The White House stated on March 1st of this year that this war was launched and was, quote, a military campaign to eliminate the imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime, end quote. That’s a statement from the White House. Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was an imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime?
Tulsi Gabbard: The intelligence community assessed that Iran maintained the intention to rebuild and to continue to grow their nuclear enrichment capability.
Jon Ossoff: Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was a, quote, imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime, yes or no?
Tulsi Gabbard: Senator, the only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent nuclear threat is the president.
Contradiction Shows the White House LIED About Iran’s Nuclear Enrichment Program
Jon Ossoff: False. This is the worldwide threats hearing where you present to Congress national intelligence, timely, objective, and independent of political considerations. You’ve stated today that the intelligence community’s assessment is that Iran‘s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated and that, quote, there had been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability. Was it the intelligence community’s assessment that nevertheless… Despite this obliteration, there was a quote, imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime. Yes or no?
Tulsi Gabbard: It is not the intelligence community’s responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent nuclear threat. That is up to the president based on a volume of information that he receives.
Jon Ossoff: It is precisely your responsibility. You’re here to be timely, objective, and independent of political considerations.
Tulsi Gabbard: Exactly what I’m doing.
Jon Ossoff: No, you’re evading a question because to provide a candid response to the committee would contradict a statement from the White House.
