US intel did not suggest a preemptive strike from Iran before US-Israeli attacks

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https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-diplomacy-airstrikes-cia-khamenei-talks-d605cf78898ab93fa992b32d0c47da2a

US intel did not suggest a preemptive strike from Iran before US-Israeli attacks, AP sources say
By MICHELLE L. PRICE, MARY CLARE JALONICK, BEN FINLEY, JOSEF FEDERMAN and DAVID KLEPPER
Updated 10:02 PM CST, March 1, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration officials told congressional staff in private briefings Sunday that U.S. intelligence did not suggest Iran was preparing to launch a preemptive strike against the U.S., three people familiar with the briefings said.

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 U.S. personnel and allies in the region.

The officials did not provide any clarity about what would happen next in Iran after the joint U.S.-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 Donald 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.

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