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Top US intelligence officials have postponed classified briefings to Congress on the conflict between Iran and Israel that were also set to provide detailed information about why the US moved forward with launching strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, the US recently carried out a series of precision military strikes targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, in what the Trump administration described as a response to an imminent threat. The strikes reportedly focused on key enrichment and research sites believed to be central to Iran’s nuclear weapons development. According to the Pentagon, the US utilized a combination of bunker-busting munitions and stealth aircraft, including B-2 bombers, to penetrate deep underground fortifications designed to protect Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, the US Senate and House classified briefings on the escalating conflict in the Middle East were abruptly postponed. The briefings, originally scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, were to be delivered by top national security officials including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine. According to reports, the Senate session was rescheduled for Thursday to allow for the participation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who are attending the NATO summit in the Netherlands. As of now, there has been no new briefing set for the House.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the delay and accused the administration of avoiding accountability. He said, “This last-minute postponement of our briefing is outrageous, it’s evasive, it’s derelict. They are bobbing and weaving and ducking. Senators deserve full transparency. There is a legal obligation for the administration to inform Congress of what is happening. What are they afraid of? Why won’t they engage Congress in the critical details, the result of the recent strike, the scope and trajectory of the conflict, the administration’s long-term strategy to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, the potential risks facing American citizens and our service members who we all have an obligation to protect?”
Schumer emphasized the importance of hearing directly from military and intelligence officials rather than just top political appointees. “If they want to come up on Thursday in addition — not in replacement of this hearing — that is OK,” he said, referencing Hegseth and Rubio’s planned attendance. “But the obstruction of this administration on a crucial issue like this, where American lives and particularly the lives of American service members are at stake, is their obligation and it undermines the very principles of accountability and oversight that safeguard our democracy.”
Despite all of this, some lawmakers (conservatives) have accused Schumer of blowing the issue out of proportion, noting that the delay is only by two days and will now include additional key US officials who can provide more detail.
