Tulsi Gabbard Warns Iran Could Build Nuclear Weapon Within Weeks
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has revised her assessment of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, stating that the country could now build a nuclear weapon within weeks to months if it decides to proceed. The statement represents a sharp departure from her earlier public testimony and brings her current position in alignment with President Donald Trump and Israeli intelligence assessments.
Intelligence Position Reversed
In her previous testimony before Congress in March, Gabbard had asserted that U.S. intelligence did not believe Iran was building a nuclear weapon at that time. However, under increasing pressure from President Trump—who strongly criticized her earlier remarks—Gabbard has now clarified that her comments were “taken out of context” and that newer intelligence assessments suggest Iran is much closer to completing a nuclear weapon than previously believed.
Timeline Compressed: ‘Weeks to Months’
In a post on social media, Gabbard stated that “America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly.” This revised warning comes as tensions escalate in the Middle East and as the U.S. considers further involvement in the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict.
Her updated timeline echoes claims made by Israeli officials, who have long argued that Iran has amassed sufficient enriched uranium and only needs to cross the technical threshold of weaponization.
Strategic and Political Realignment
Despite Gabbard’s warnings, many U.S. and international nuclear experts maintain that while Iran has enough highly enriched uranium for several bombs, it would still take six months to a year to produce a crude weapon and up to three years to develop a deliverable warhead. Gabbard’s new position appears more politically aligned with the Trump administration’s stance rather than being purely based on prior intelligence estimates.
Her pivot has raised concerns among some intelligence officials who view the timing and framing of her statement as a politically charged recalibration, possibly aimed at justifying imminent military decisions.
