US Intelligence Did Not Suggest Preemptive Strike From Iran: Sources

Trump administration officials told congressional staff in private briefings Sunday that US intelligence did not suggest Iran was preparing to launch a preemptive strike against the US, three people familiar with the briefings said, per the AP. The administration officials instead acknowledged there was a more general threat in the region from Iran's missiles and proxy forces, two of the people said. The third person, however, said the administration emphasized that Iran's missiles and proxy forces posed an imminent threat to US personnel and allies in the region. The officials did not provide any clarity about what would happen next in Iran after the joint US-Israeli operation, the two people said. All three people insisted on anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public.

The information conveyed to the congressional staff contrasts with the message from President Trump. "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people," he said in a video message after launching strikes on Iran. Senior Trump administration officials, who like others were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, had told reporters Saturday that there were indicators that the Iranians could launch a preemptive attack. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately reply to requests for comment on Sunday night. While the White House has signaled Iran is open to talks, CNN reports that on Sunday, Iran's top national security official Ali Larijani said the country "will not negotiate with the United States."