President Donald Trump is in the middle of the spotlight as the head of state, since the strains between Israel and Iran intensify. Trump signals possible U.S. involvement, and Senator Markwayne Mullin has provoked controversy by claiming access to “secret intelligence,” suggesting Iran is nearing the capability to develop a nuclear weapon. His statement directly contradicts the broader consensus of the U.S. intelligence community.
As of mid-June 2025, tensions between the United States and Iran have also sharply escalated amid the intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel. Following a massive Iranian missile and drone assault on Israel, Tehran warned that any U.S. military involvement would trigger “all-out war.” Meanwhile, leading Iranian officials have issued severe warnings, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei menacing “irreparable damage” if the U.S. enters the war.
As per The Express, during an appearance on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper, Mullin was pressed to clarify the source of his claims. While avoiding specifics, he stated, “There’s very little I can actually say. But those of us who’ve received the briefings believe Iran is very, very close.” Mullin added that he places strong faith in Israeli intelligence, which he believes is more accurate in pinpointing certain dangers.
Yet, American intelligence agencies and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have made repeated claims for over two decades that Iran was only months away from building a bomb, none of which have materialized, including a March assessment from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who continues to claim that Iran is nowhere near developing a nuclear weapon.
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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which conducts on-the-ground inspections in Iran, maintains that while Iran’s intentions remain unclear, there is currently “no credible indication” of an active, coordinated nuclear weapons program. This aligns with assessments from the broader U.S. intelligence community, which has invariably said Iran is not on the verge of having a nuclear weapon.
The talk about Iran developing a nuclear weapon began when Israel launched airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. In 2015, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions. That deal smartly cut its uranium stock and enrichment levels. However, in 2018, President Trump removed the U.S. from the agreement and issued sanctions. After that, Iran began neglecting the deal’s limits and expanded its nuclear work.
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By May 2025, Iran had over 9 tons of enriched uranium, including uranium enriched up to 60%, close to the 90% needed for weapons. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has urged support for Israel’s actions, stating the strikes followed the end of a 60-day window he had set for U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks. (via Reuters).
While those talks reportedly continue, little improvement has been made. According to Iranian human rights groups, at least 239 civilians and 126 security personnel have died in Israeli airstrikes. Reportedly, the same group has been known for documenting casualties during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests and verifying deaths through a trusted network within Iran.
While the political situation between all three nations at this point in history seems very unstable, the escalating confrontation between Israel and Iran has drawn the United States closer to potential military involvement. On top of that, Donald Trump’s always-ready-to-retaliate attitude, despite hypocritically claiming that he wants peace, adds fuel to the fire.
With people like Senator Mullin, who highlighted concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions despite conflicting intelligence assessments. In contrast, even though Israeli strikes and inflammatory rhetoric dominate headlines. International organisations like the IAEA and the broader U.S. intelligence community continue to assert that Iran is not actively developing a nuclear weapon.
The upcoming weeks will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this situation; hence, stay tuned for further updates!
