Bombshell Pentagon Admission Undermines Trump’s Justification for Iran Attacks

Pentagon briefers told congressional staff that Iran had no plans to preemptively strike U.S. forces or bases in the region, according to CNN.

The revelation challenges President Donald Trump’s justification for joining Israel in attacking Iran and targeting its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran X)

Catherine Bouris of The Daily Beast cited two people on Mar. 2, 2026, saying no clear evidence of an imminent Iranian attack was presented.

The Associated Press (AP) and Politico cited three people familiar with the briefing who confirmed those reports.

The revelation challenges President Donald Trump’s justification for joining Israel in attacking Iran and targeting its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. White House officials had claimed the U.S. acted after receiving indications that Iran was planning missile strikes against American bases.

In announcing the strikes, Trump said the Iranian regime was building missiles that “could soon reach the American homeland.”

However, a U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessment published last year found that Iran was years away from possessing intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the United States.

Sources told CNN there was no intelligence indicating Iran was pursuing such capabilities at the time of the strikes. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, echoed that position last week.