RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesPresident Donald Trump was reportedly briefed by then-director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that overthrowing regime in Tehran could bring more hard-line successor in its place
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President Donald Trump was warned against attacking Iran in February by U.S. intelligence chiefs, who suggested it could backfire and usher in an even more hard-line regime, according to a report.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the then-director of national intelligence and military veteran Tulsi Gabbard was summoned to the Oval Office to discuss the issue before strikes were launched on February 28.
Trump was reportedly buoyed at the time by the success of the previous summer’s Operation Midnight Hammer attacks on Iran ’s nuclear facilities and the removal of Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela and wanted her assessment on the proposed new assault.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reportedly pushed for military action, claimed the Islamic Republic was in a weaker condition than ever before so there was an opportunity to extinguish its nuclear ambitions once and for all.
But according to The Journal’s sources, Gabbard told Trump killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would only usher in a more authoritarian government more likely to seek weapons of mass destruction.
The president was also reportedly told Iran would likely respond to airstrikes by shutting off the Strait of Hormuz to spike oil prices and by retaliating against America’s regional allies, which is exactly what happened.
Military top brass is said to have cautioned Trump the proposed operation would mean casualties, dwindling munitions supplies and overstretched resources.
As has been previously reported, Vice President JD Vance also advised him against embarking on the conflict but vowed to support him if he did choose to do so.
Ultimately, according to the Journal , Trump was persuaded by the arguments put forward by his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth , Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, who laid out detailed plans for disabling the country with Israel’s help.
Operation Epic Fury was duly launched on February 28 and Khamenei was killed on the first day of the strikes , inspiring an initial wave of euphoria from Trump that quickly gave way once it became clear that the knock-on consequences outlined by Gabbard – who left the administration in May – had come to pass.
The president has since veered wildly from issuing apocalyptic threats against Iran to insisting its new leadership is desperate to sign a peace deal while privately expressing bafflement about its refusal to bow to his persistent military pressure.
Under pressure from Gulf allies like Saudi Arabia and Qatar to cease the fighting and from Republicans at home mindful of the unpopular war’s impact on their midterm election prospects, Trump now finds himself struggling to end a conflict he initially claimed would take six weeks to conduct but which is now entering its sixth month.
The 60-day period for negotiating a peace agreement stipulated by the memorandum of understanding the two sides signed on June 17 has now lapsed, leading the president to turn to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to try to crush Tehran financially with his new Operation Economic Outcast sanctions .
But with 3,000 Iranians and 18 U.S. servicemembers dead and another 756 troops injured, oil prices high and American assets damaged and drained, the problem of ending the hostilities without losing face is becoming increasingly acute.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales told the Journal in a statement that Trump has succeeded in decimating Iran’s military and its nuclear facilities and will now do the same to its economy.
“He will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” she said. “It would be wise for Iran to reach a deal. Otherwise, they know what could happen.”
The Independent has reached out to the White House for further comment.
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