Just days into one of the most tense standoffs between Israel and Iran in recent years, former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is walking back her earlier comments about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Under growing scrutiny—including a sharp rebuke from former President Donald Trump—Gabbard has now acknowledged that Iran likely does have the materials and ability to create nuclear weapons, a significant shift from her testimony just months ago.
From Testimony to Twitter: The Political U-Turn
Back in March, Gabbard told Congress that U.S. intelligence assessments continued to show Iran was not actively developing a nuclear weapon.
But that claim clashed loudly with Trump’s recent statements, in which he flat-out said: “She’s wrong.”
Trump questioned the intelligence community’s accuracy and insisted Iran was close to becoming nuclear-armed.
Gabbard, in response, took to social media on Friday to defend herself and clarify her position, accusing media outlets of taking her words out of context.
“America has intelligence that Iran is at the point it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months,” she wrote, adding that she agreed with Trump’s urgency to prevent that outcome.
Trump Doubles Down and Warns of Military Action
Trump isn’t softening his stance. Speaking from Joint Base Andrews before heading to a fundraiser in New Jersey, the former president said Iran has already amassed “a tremendous amount of material” and may be only weeks away from a functioning nuclear weapon.
He warned that the U.S. can’t allow Iran to cross that threshold, signaling that American airstrikes could be imminent if diplomacy fails.
While the White House hinted at a two-week window for potential negotiations with Iran, Trump himself seemed skeptical, saying he wasn’t sure talks could lead to a ceasefire.
“It’s very hard to stop when somebody is winning,” he said, referring to Israel’s continued momentum in its military campaign.
Gabbard’s Role Behind the Scenes
Despite rumors that Gabbard had been sidelined, several White House and intelligence officials told the Daily Mail that she remains deeply involved in shaping U.S. strategy.
One insider said she’s been in “every key meeting” and continues to advise Trump personally on national security matters.
Even Vice President J.D. Vance chimed in, calling Gabbard “an essential member of our national security team” in a public statement of support.
The White House also pushed back on reports claiming Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had been left out, insisting he too has been part of crucial Middle East discussions.
Israel Claims Progress While Iran Holds Firm
As Israel continues to launch targeted airstrikes against Iranian missile storage and nuclear sites, the country’s foreign minister claimed Saturday that their offensive has delayed Iran’s nuclear capabilities by at least two to three years.
“We’ll do everything we can to eliminate this threat,” he told German media.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are being made across Europe.
Top officials from Britain, France, and Germany met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva to urge a return to U.S.-led talks.
However, Araghchi pushed back hard, saying Iran would not engage in negotiations as long as Israeli strikes continued.
Trump Shrugs Off European Diplomacy
Unimpressed by Europe’s attempts to mediate, Trump said bluntly, “Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe.
They want to speak to us.” He also made it clear he was unlikely to ask Israel to pause its campaign in exchange for renewed talks, repeating, “If somebody’s winning, it’s a little harder to ask them to stop.”
Trump pointed out that if the U.S. does get involved, it could use military options that no other country has—hinting at specialized bunker-busting bombs capable of targeting underground Iranian nuclear facilities like the one in Fordo.
Evacuations and Anxiety in the Region
As tensions rise, the U.S. has already begun evacuating diplomats and their families from the region.
On Friday, a military flight carried 79 Americans out of Tel Aviv to Sofia, Bulgaria, where they were expected to board a charter to Washington.
It marked the second such evacuation this week as concerns grow for the safety of American citizens in both Israel and Iran.
Back in Tehran, the atmosphere is tense. Many shops have closed, and bustling markets now appear eerily empty as residents brace for what could come next.
War or Diplomacy: A Critical Juncture
With Israel showing no signs of halting its campaign and Iran digging in its heels, the question now is whether diplomacy has any room left to work—or if a full-scale regional conflict is on the horizon.
Tulsi Gabbard’s recalibrated stance may align more closely with Trump’s hardline approach, but with time ticking and missiles flying, the world is watching to see whether this standoff ends at the negotiating table or in another devastating war.