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) FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe prepare to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on "Worldwide Threats," on Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 25, 2025. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

WASHINGTON—While joint U.S. and Israeli strikes have diminished Iran’s ability to exert influence throughout the Middle East, the U.S. intelligence community says that the Shia 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.