Watch: Ossoff grills Gabbard on whether Iran poses an "imminent nuclear threat"

CBS News
March 18, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Gabbard testified Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated in 2025 strikes, though Sen. Ossoff questioned the imminent threat level.

AI Summary

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faced questioning from Sen. Jon Ossoff about Iran's nuclear threat level, with Gabbard telling the senator that the intelligence community assessed Iran's nuclear enrichment program was "obliterated" in 2025 strikes. Ossoff pressed whether Iran still posed an "imminent nuclear threat," raising questions about the scope and effectiveness of those operations. The exchange reflects ongoing debate within Congress over the Trump administration's approach to Iran's nuclear capabilities and whether military action has sufficiently degraded the program. Gabbard's assessment will likely influence how lawmakers evaluate the administration's Iran policy and defense priorities in coming appropriations and oversight votes.

Source Coverage Map

8 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

19% coverage
Did Not Cover (35)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP News96AP US News96AP Top News96+30 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Watch: Senator raises concerns about Iran war's impact on Ukraine
Global

Watch: Senator raises concerns about Iran war's impact on Ukraine

GOP Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas asked about the impact of Iran's war on support for Ukraine's war against Russia. "Is U.S. support maintained or diminished for Ukraine as a result of [Operation] Epic Fury?" Moran asked Lt. Gen. James Adams, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

CBS NewsMar 18
ABC News

Gabbard faces 2nd day of questions on Iran war, worldwide threats

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and other top officials are testifying before the House Intelligence Committee.

Mar 19
Top counterterrorism official Kent resigns over Trump's Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat - AP News
National Security

Top counterterrorism official Kent resigns over Trump's Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxQY3hKc1k0enEwcnVPOWVCLXZqVUdUSGRMZDk2WkExSTlXZ2hobHdRWmZqUDBkVUhCN1JUOGVDblVzRG4yLU5Jc2xhSHdQWG1GRFpzTTY4V05TWTNNMWI0WlgyS1JLTU42MEI4UnAwa3FSMllYWjRCUU5UYkpETUNsal95enVVRXVDdWU5Z2lPRHI3a0Zwa1E?oc=5" target="_blank">Top counterterrorism official Kent resigns over Trump's Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 17
California governor says no imminent threat despite warning about possible Iran drone attack - AP News
National Security

California governor says no imminent threat despite warning about possible Iran drone attack - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxQXzdZaTM1dlZEMS1nSld0TmtjamdDYUhUbUNhcmZiblVFMWVsaXJ3X3I0NWYxcnBGVzM2bGRiVHBBZTZQc1dfOGFiSjJ4NHJDWlhSU05Eb1Fvbkt5LU9iUG5JakhlWGF4cGl1Z0M2SUFLcWRiMzZVbWQ4Q2dmR3hmWVYzRDg4bVAwVGhUd2FiS21mVzlBTU9PTkZITQ?oc=5" target="_blank">California governor says no imminent threat despite warning about possible Iran drone attack</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 12
Russian tanker adrift in Mediterranean poses 'imminent and serious' threat, EU states say
Environment

Russian tanker adrift in Mediterranean poses 'imminent and serious' threat, EU states say

A Russian natural gas tanker adrift in the Mediterranean Sea represents an "imminent and serious" ecological threat, several European nations have warned.

Sky NewsMar 16
Trump relied on unverified intelligence to blame Iran for deadly school strike
National Security

Trump relied on unverified intelligence to blame Iran for deadly school strike

<p>Exclusive: Early US assessment suggesting missile was Iranian was almost immediately dismissed, sources say</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump</a>’s attempt to blame Iran for the deadly strike on an elementary school stemmed from an early US intelligence assessment that initially suggested the missile was Iranian but was almost immediately dismissed, according to two people familiar with the matter.</p><p>The CIA initially told the president that they did not believe the missile that struck the school was a munition used by the US because the fins appeared to be positioned too low for it to be a Tomahawk cruise missile.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/17/trump-intelligence-iran-school-strike">Continue reading...</a>

The Guardian US NewsMar 17
Read Next
Trump’s $10 billion TikTok ‘brokerage fee’ is just the tip of the iceberg
Politics

Trump’s $10 billion TikTok ‘brokerage fee’ is just the tip of the iceberg

Not only is this pay-to-play arrangement with the federal government unprecedented; it also smacks of possible corruption.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources