US intelligence and military officials warned President Donald Trump in the days leading up to the US-Israeli war on Iran that a large-scale attack could trigger many of the consequences Washington has since struggled to manage, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Days before the war began on 28 February, Trump summoned then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to the Oval Office and asked whether launching an all-out assault on Iran was advisable, the WSJ reported on Monday.
Gabbard reportedly presented assessments from US intelligence agencies warning that assassinating Iran’s supreme leader could result in a more hardline government that might be even more determined to pursue nuclear weapons, the report said, citing people familiar with the meeting.
She also warned that Tehran would likely move quickly to shut the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy markets, while retaliating against US forces and Washington’s regional allies.
Senior military officials separately cautioned that a broader war could lead to US casualties, further strain already overstretched US forces and raise concerns about weapons stockpiles and military readiness.
Vice President JD Vance was also among those urging a more cautious approach, according to the report. He argued that Washington should first determine whether Iran could be persuaded through negotiations to dismantle its nuclear program, particularly as its economy was already being squeezed by US sanctions. A failed diplomatic effort, he argued, could later provide a stronger justification for military action.
Trump ultimately sided with officials advocating what were described as decisive military options and ordered the attack.
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