WASHINGTON (AP) — Tensions remain high in the fourth week of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, with no clear path to de-escalation as energy attacks escalate and global allies remain hesitant to intervene, according to assessments released Wednesday and Thursday. The conflict’s broadening impact is raising concerns about global energy prices, international security, and even upcoming elections.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faced scrutiny from lawmakers during a congressional hearing Wednesday regarding the justifications for the war and the state of Iran’s nuclear program. Gabbard asserted that assessing imminent threats isn’t the intelligence community’s role, a statement that drew criticism as she presented differing accounts of Iran’s nuclear capabilities in prepared remarks versus her oral testimony. The annual threat assessment released alongside the hearing initially stated Iran was attempting to rebuild its nuclear infrastructure prior to “Operation Epic Fury” – Washington’s name for the war – but later claimed the program had been “obliterated” by U.S. strikes.
The assessment also noted Iran’s capacity for “lethal operations against Americans at home and abroad” and its development of space-launch vehicles potentially capable of delivering an intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035. Despite these capabilities, the report emphasized that Operation Epic Fury has “almost certainly has curtailed Iran’s ability to project power,” though Tehran is utilizing remaining resources, including ballistic missiles and regional proxies, to retaliate.
The escalating conflict has manifested in intensified attacks on energy infrastructure. On Thursday, Iran targeted oil and gas refineries in Israel and Arab Gulf countries, sparking fears of further increases in global energy prices. This followed an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, which the Trump administration claimed to have had no prior knowledge of, despite assurances from an Israeli diplomat that the U.S. was informed.
Beyond Iran, the intelligence community’s assessment highlighted Russia’s continued missile development and the ongoing war in Ukraine as significant threats. It notably omitted any mention of potential election interference, a consistent focus in previous assessments, even as Gabbard maintained there’s currently no evidence of foreign threats to November’s midterm elections.
China was assessed as prioritizing a stable economic relationship with the U.S. while seeking to reduce American military presence in the region. The assessment downplayed concerns about a potential invasion of Taiwan, stating Chinese leaders do not currently plan such an action.
The U.S. is also increasingly focused on its own hemisphere, with the assessment dedicating significant attention to threats from Latin America, including drug trafficking, gangs, and migration. The document acknowledged a willingness from Venezuela to cooperate with the U.S. following the recent U.S. military operation to capture President Nicolás Maduro.
In other developments, Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned Tuesday, citing opposition to the war in Iran, stating in a post on X that Iran posed no imminent threat and the conflict was driven by pressure from Israel and its American lobby.
A temporary, five-day pause in military operations between Pakistan and Afghanistan is set to begin in observance of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, following requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. However, Pakistan warned it would resume operations with “renewed intensity” in the event of any attacks originating from Afghanistan during the truce.
The Pentagon has reportedly requested an additional $200 billion from Congress to fund the war in Iran, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated, “It takes money to kill bad guys.”
The U.S. State Department also approved billions in arms sales to the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Kuwait, including THAAD missile defense systems and anti-drone technology.
