President Trump Says U.S. Intelligence ‘Wrong’ About Iran Not Building Nuclear Bomb

In a striking departure from the assessments of his own intelligence community, President Donald Trump has publicly declared that Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon—despite official U.S. reports stating otherwise.

“They're wrong,” Trump told reporters. “Iran has never stopped trying to build a bomb. You'd have to be blind not to see that.”

This statement comes amid renewed global concern about Iran’s nuclear activities, particularly as tensions in the Middle East remain high and diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington continue to erode.

Intelligence vs. Intuition

President Trump’s claim contradicts recent findings by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which state that while Iran has increased uranium enrichment, there is no concrete evidence of an active nuclear weapons program.

U.S. intelligence agencies maintain that Iran has not restarted the weaponization efforts that were halted under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump famously withdrew from during his first term in 2018.

This is not the first time President Trump has publicly challenged the findings of America’s intelligence agencies. During his previous term, he often dismissed intelligence briefings that clashed with his policy goals—from Russian election interference to North Korean missile development.

Now, as commander-in-chief once again, his skepticism is having greater consequences, especially when tied to matters of war and diplomacy.

Since retaking office in January 2025, Trump has pushed for a "maximum pressure 2.0" strategy against Iran. His administration has reimposed harsh sanctions, increased military presence in the Gulf, and sought to rally regional allies around a tougher stance.

Experts warn that Trump's public rejection of intelligence assessments could:

Undermine the credibility of U.S. intelligence globally

Justify pre-emptive military actions

Collapse any chance of nuclear diplomacy with Iran

Iran Responds

Iranian officials quickly denounced Trump’s statements, calling them “provocative” and “fabricated.” A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry stated that the country’s nuclear program remains peaceful and under constant surveillance by the IAEA.

However, with inspections growing more difficult and regional tensions high, concerns are mounting that Trump’s comments could escalate into a broader conflict.

President Trump’s declaration that Iran is building a nuclear bomb—against the conclusions of his own intelligence community—adds a new layer of instability to U.S.-Iran relations. Whether this signals a shift toward confrontation or a strategic political msage remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Trump’s second term will continue to defy conventional intelligence and diplomatic playbooks.