Senior officials in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged in closed-door briefings to Congress that intelligence agencies had no evidence Iran was planning to launch a first strike against American forces.

The disclosures reportedly came after the United States and Israel began a large-scale military operation against Iran. Previously, the White House had argued that the decision to carry out strikes was linked to concerns over a possible “preemptive” attack from Tehran, The Caspian Post reports via foreign media.

No Immediate Attack Intelligence

During Pentagon briefings, officials stressed that Iran’s missile capabilities and its regional allies pose a significant threat to U.S. interests. However, they reportedly conceded there was no specific intelligence indicating preparations for an imminent attack.

The reported assessment has intensified political debate in Washington over the justification for the military campaign.

Democrats Question Rationale

Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the decision to initiate military action, raising doubts about its legal and strategic basis. They questioned whether the administration had sufficient grounds to escalate the conflict without clear evidence of an impending threat.