Iran Regime ‘Intact but Largely Degraded,’ Intelligence Director Gabbard Says

Should Iran’s current power structure survive the conflict, Gabbard says it will likely pursue a lengthy effort to rebuild its drone and missile forces.

(L–R) Director of Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) James Adams III, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Acting Commander of U.S. Cyber Command William Hartman testify during a Senate Committee on Intelligence hearing to examine worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill on March 18, 2026. Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images

WASHINGTON—Although joint U.S. and Israeli strikes have diminished Iran’s ability to exert influence throughout the Middle East, the U.S. intelligence community says the Shiite Islamic regime’s power structure remains intact.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard made her comments during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on March 17 to discuss her office’s latest annual assessment of global threats.