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WASHINGTON, D.C. — As U.S. military operations continue in Iran, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) sharply questioned top intelligence officials, exposing glaring inconsistencies, evasions, and a troubling admission: the intelligence community cannot clearly support claims that Iran posed an imminent nuclear threat.

Rep. Gomez repeatedly asked Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard whether she still stands by her prior testimony that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon. She declined to give a clear yes-or-no answer. CIA Director John Ratcliffe similarly avoided confirming that earlier assessment.

Rep. Gomez also pointed to President Trump’s public dismissal of intelligence findings, noting that officials would not directly respond when asked whether the President should rely on their assessments.

Key Excerpts from Rep. Gomez’s Questioning:

Intelligence Officials Admit that Trump May Ignore Intelligence in War:
Gomez: “Yesterday, you said the only person who can determine what is an 'imminent threat' is the President of the United States. Do you stand by that statement?”

Gabbard: “Yes I do.”

Gomez: "Director Ratcliffe, do you agree with that assessment?"

Ratcliffe: "The President as Commander in Chief gets to make a decision about what's an imminent threat."

Gomez: “If the President can determine and ignore what you're doing, why do you guys even have a job? Why do you even advise him?”

Gomez Questioning Exposes that Basis for Iran War Doesn't Exist:
Gomez: “Director Gabbard, last year you testified that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon. Do you stand by that statement, yes or no?”

Gabbard: “Context matters—”

Gomez: “I reclaim my time. It’s an easy answer, you either stand by what you said last year or not.”

No clear evidence Iran posed an imminent threat:
Gomez: “Were they weeks away from achieving a nuclear weapon, yes or no?”

Gabbard: “This is a serious matter—”

Gomez: “Were they weeks away or not? The American people need to know if this was an imminent threat or not.”

DNI Gabbard Can't Answer Who Poses Greater Threat: North Korea or Iran:
Gomez: “Director Gabbard, you said that North Korea has intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the [United States]. Yet, the Defense Department said that Iran was at least 10 years away from that capability. Which one is the more serious threat? North Korea or Iran?”

Gabbard: “These threats are taken within the context of the total body of intelligence reporting.”

Gomez: “That’s my point. It’s not just about having the capability of building a weapon, it’s if they can actually deliver that weapon, if they have the intention of doing that.”

Gomez: “We haven’t heard that they were weeks away. We haven’t heard that they were months away. That’s what we’re waiting for.”

Gomez: “Imminent to me means they're mobilizing troops. They're moving things into position, artillery. They're getting ready to attack. But everything that we've heard is that this is not the case”