Pentagon Tells Congress No Intelligence Iran Planned First Strike, Sources Say

Trump administration officials told congressional staff in closed-door briefings that there was no intelligence indicating Iran was preparing to attack U.S. forces before the United States and Israel launched major strikes, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.

The briefings, held on Sunday for Democratic and Republican staff from key national security committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives, lasted more than 90 minutes. Officials outlined the scope of the unfolding military campaign but acknowledged there was no specific intelligence suggesting Tehran was planning to strike U.S. forces first, the sources said.

The disclosure appears to undercut one of the central justifications offered publicly by senior administration officials for the attacks. A day earlier, officials had told reporters that President Donald Trump decided to initiate the operation in part due to indicators that Iran might strike U.S. forces in the Middle East, potentially in a preemptive move.

One official said at the time that Trump was unwilling to “sit back and allow American forces in the region to absorb attacks.”

Large-Scale Strikes Underway

The United States and Israel began what officials describe as their most extensive attacks on Iran in decades on Saturday. The strikes reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sank Iranian warships and hit more than 1,000 targets across the country.

U.S. Central Command said American aircraft and warships have targeted missile facilities, military infrastructure and other strategic sites. B-2 stealth bombers have dropped 2,000-pound bombs on hardened underground missile installations, according to the military.

The operation is expected to continue for weeks.

Trump said the campaign aims to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, curb its missile program and eliminate threats to the United States and its allies. He has also urged Iranians to rise up against their government.

Casualties and Political Fallout

The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that three U.S. service members were killed and five seriously wounded in the early stages of the conflict. Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions.

As the military campaign intensifies, political divisions in Washington are sharpening. Democrats have accused Trump of launching a “war of choice” and have questioned the administration’s decision to abandon peace talks that mediator Oman had said still showed promise.

Trump has argued, without presenting public evidence, that Iran was on track to gain the ability to strike the United States with a ballistic missile in the near future. However, sources familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments have said that claim was not supported by available intelligence and may have been overstated.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted on Sunday showed Americans divided over the strikes. Twenty-seven percent said they approved of the military action, while 43 percent disapproved and 29 percent said they were unsure.

The debate over the justification for the war is expected to intensify as operations continue and Congress weighs its role in authorizing or limiting further military action.