Top Intelligence Chiefs Face Senate Hearing on Iran War 'Imminent Threat' Claims After Counterterror Chief Resigns
Top U.S. intelligence officials — including DNI Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, NSA chief Lt. Gen. William Hartman and DIA Director Lt. Gen. James Adams — are set to testify at a Senate Intelligence Committee "worldwide threats" hearing Wednesday at 10 a.m. about the Iran war and threats to the homeland. The hearing follows the resignation of National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, who said Iran posed "no imminent threat" and accused Israeli officials, parts of the media and pro‑Israel pressure in the U.S. of promoting a misinformation campaign that helped prompt the war; Gabbard countered that the president determines imminence after reviewing intelligence, while a March 2025 U.S. assessment judged Iran was not building a nuclear weapon though it retained substantial missile, drone and regional strike capabilities.
📌 Key Facts
- A Senate Intelligence Committee 'worldwide threats' hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, with DNI Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, NSA chief Lt. Gen. William Hartman and DIA Director Lt. Gen. James Adams set to testify.
- National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent resigned and, in a letter published in detail, wrote that Iran posed 'no imminent threat' and blamed the war's start on 'pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.'
- In his resignation letter, Kent alleged a 'misinformation campaign' by high‑ranking Israeli officials and some media outlets that he says 'deceived' former President Trump into believing an imminent Iranian threat existed and that a swift victory was possible.
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard publicly responded on X, saying the president is responsible for determining what constitutes an imminent threat and asserting that Trump concluded the 'terrorist Islamist regime in Iran' posed such a threat after reviewing the intelligence.
- CBS News recapped a March 2025 U.S. intelligence community assessment that continued to find Iran was 'not building a nuclear weapon' and that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had not reauthorized a weapons program, while noting Iran retained substantial missile, drone and regional strike capabilities.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2026, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) funneled $13.7 million through Super PACs into Illinois primaries, influencing U.S. political races.
Aipac: toxicity of pro-Israel Super Pac's money to be tested in US primaries — The Guardian
A 2026 poll found that 61.6% of Iranian Americans support diplomacy to de-escalate tensions with Iran, reflecting community preferences amid U.S.-Iran conflicts.
Most Iranian Americans want diplomacy with Iran: poll — Responsible Statecraft
A U.S. intelligence assessment from March 2025 stated that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had not reauthorized the program.
Assessing Trump's Claims on Iran's Nuclear and Missile Capabilities — FactCheck.org
As of March 2026, at least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured in U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28, according to Iran's Health Ministry.
US-Israel attacks on Iran: Death toll and injuries live tracker — Al Jazeera
Pro-Israel groups have contributed over $30 million to U.S. Senate candidates across multiple cycles, with significant portions directed to influence foreign policy positions.
Pro-Israel Recipients — OpenSecrets
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms line-up and timing for the Senate Intelligence Committee 'worldwide threats' hearing: 10 a.m. Wednesday, with DNI Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, NSA chief Lt. Gen. William Hartman and DIA Director Lt. Gen. James Adams testifying.
- Publishes detailed excerpts from National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent’s resignation letter, in which he says Iran posed 'no imminent threat' and claims the war was started due to 'pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.'
- Reports Kent’s allegation that a 'misinformation campaign' by high-ranking Israeli officials and some media outlets 'deceived' Trump into believing an imminent Iranian threat existed and that a swift victory was possible.
- Adds Tulsi Gabbard’s public response on X asserting that the president is responsible for determining what constitutes an imminent threat and that Trump concluded the 'terrorist Islamist regime in Iran' posed such a threat after reviewing the intelligence.
- Recaps the March 2025 U.S. intelligence community assessment stating it continued to assess that Iran was 'not building a nuclear weapon' and that Ali Khamenei had not reauthorized the program, though Iran had substantial missile, drone and regional strike capabilities.