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CIA: Iranian regime weakened, but can still strike US targets
2026-03-18 19:02:51 / BOTA
The regime in Iran remains functional, albeit significantly weakened, and continues to be able to strike American targets. This is the assessment made by the US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
Speaking during the annual hearing of the US Senate Intelligence Committee on global threats to the US, Gabbard stressed that "the regime in Iran still appears stable, but has been significantly weakened by Operation Epic Fury," referring to the US-Israeli military campaign against Tehran.
Despite the strikes, Iran and its allies continue to have the capacity to attack US interests and those of its partners in the Middle East, she said. She also warned that if the regime survives, it could embark on a multi-year process of rebuilding its missile arsenal and drone fleet.
The hearing is expected to focus largely on the Iran war, now in its third week. Lawmakers, both Republican and Democratic, have demanded more transparency about the air campaign, which has killed thousands, affected the lives of millions and shaken global energy and financial markets.
Democrats have criticized the Trump administration for failing to adequately brief Congress, saying the conflict has cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. They are demanding public testimony, rather than the classified briefings that have been conducted over the past two weeks.
Iran has not resumed nuclear enrichment
In a written statement, Gabbard said Iran has made no efforts to resume nuclear enrichment activities after the joint US-Israeli strikes in June 2025.
She stressed that after Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran's nuclear enrichment program was destroyed and there have been no attempts to restore its capabilities. According to her, the entrances to the hit underground facilities have been covered and sealed with concrete.
However, this part was not included in her oral testimony during the hearing, which she justified with time constraints, without questioning the assessment made.
Meanwhile, the US joined Israel in June to strike Iran's military targets and nuclear program, with President Trump declaring at the time that the capabilities had been completely destroyed.
In another development, a senior US official in the fight against terrorism resigned a day earlier in protest of the war on Iran, arguing that the Islamic Republic did not pose an immediate threat to the United States.
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