Trump claims Iran ICBM threat is imminent; intelligence says timeline is 2035

As strikes began, President Trump told the American public that Iran could soon strike the United States with long-range missiles, citing the threat as a primary justification for Operation Epic Fury. A Defense Intelligence Agency assessment cited by CNN and confirmed by two intelligence officials contradicted the claim, projecting Iran could develop a militarily viable ICBM by 2035 only if it decided to pursue the capability — a decade away and contingent on a decision Iran had not made.