00:00I've heard some analysts say that Iran could have had a functioning intercontinental missile
00:05to threaten the United States in as few as six months.
00:08Would you agree with that assessment?
00:10Well, you're right to be concerned about Iran's development of longer-range ballistic missiles, Senator.
00:15If Iran were allowed to develop at the IRBM ranges, which is 3,000 kilometers,
00:24it would threaten most of Europe.
00:26And, yes, as you mentioned, we know that Iran is gaining experience in these larger,
00:32more powerful booster technologies through its so-called space launch vehicle program.
00:39If left unimpeded, yes, Senator, they would have the ability to range missiles to the continental U.S.
00:49Taking place right now in Operation Epic Fury is so important to our national security.
00:54Service to our country and the people you represent.
00:58The question is, there seems to be a discrepancy between what the Intelligence Committee community
01:03has reported over the years and what the president has said in terms of this action.
01:10For example, Senator Wyden read the report from a year ago that strikes against neighboring states
01:17and action to close the Strait of Hormuz was predicted by the intelligence community.
01:22And yet the president says nobody knew.
01:24And my question is, did you tell him?
01:28Anybody want to answer that question?
01:33Senator Wyden, I'll answer the question.
01:35So, with regard to briefings, the president gets briefings constantly about intelligence.
01:44Now, the comments that you talked about, I had not heard.
01:47What I can tell you is that Iran had specific plans to hit U.S. interests in energy sites across
01:55the region.
01:56And that's why the Department of War and the Department of State took measures for force protection
02:02and personnel protection in advance of Operation Epic Fury.
02:06I think that's what's most important.
02:09Any predictions to the president about the Strait of Hormuz?
02:12All you've got to do is look at a map and you'll see the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz.
02:17Was that part of the briefing, Director Gabbard?
02:21I think Director Ratcliffe made the point here is that this has long been an assessment of the IC,
02:30that Iran would likely hold the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.
02:34And my question is, was that communicated to the president in the lead-up to this action?
02:38And it's because of that long-standing assessment that the IC has continued to report
02:42that the Department of War took the preemptive planning measures that it did.
02:48Well, they've stated that they did not plan for the Strait of Hormuz.
02:52The president said, who knew that was going to happen?
02:55Anyway.
02:55Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was an imminent nuclear threat
03:00posed by the Iranian regime?
03:03The intelligence community assessed that Iran maintained the intention to rebuild
03:08and to continue to grow their nuclear enrichment capability.
03:11Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was a, quote,
03:15imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime, yes or no?
03:18Senator, the only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the president.
03:24False.
03:24And he made that determination.
03:25This is the worldwide threats hearing where you present to Congress national intelligence,
03:30timely, objective, and independent of political considerations.
03:33You've stated today that the intelligence community's assessment is that Iran's nuclear enrichment program
03:39was obliterated and that, quote, there had been no efforts since then
03:43to try to rebuild their enrichment capability.
03:46Was it the intelligence community's assessment that, nevertheless,
03:50despite this obliteration, there was a, quote,
03:53imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime?
03:56Yes or no?
03:56It is not the intelligence community's responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat.
04:02Okay.
04:02That is up to the president based on a volume of information that he receives.
04:06It is precisely your responsibility to determine what constitutes a threat to the United States.
04:12This is the worldwide threats hearing.
04:20It is precisely your responsibility to determine what constitutes a threat to the United States.
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