Lawmakers press U.S. intelligence officials on Iran war as new strikes jolt oil markets

Amna Nawaz:

Welcome to the "News Hour."

Tonight, a series of strikes across the Middle East jolted energy markets, and fueled concerns that the war won't end any time soon.

Geoff Bennett:

Brent crude oil prices, a key benchmark, are nearing a 52-week high after Israel hit a large gas field in Iran. And Iranian strikes caused extensive damage to a major Qatari fuel hub.

Our Nick Schifrin starts our coverage.

Nick Schifrin:

Today in Southern Iran, Israel expanded its effort to collapse the Iranian state. An Israeli strike targeted South Pars, the world's largest natural gas field. And Israel continued its decapitation campaign, killing Iranian intelligence minister Esmail Khatib, sanctioned by the U.S. for human rights abuses and cyberattacks.

In response, Iran issued unprecedented evacuation warnings for energy facilities across the Gulf. And, tonight, there are multiple explosions reported in Saudi Arabia, and Qatari admitted to -- quote -- "extensive damage" to a major energy hub.

Tonight, Qatari expelled Iranian diplomats. The attacks stoked fears of a global oil crunch and rising prices.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR):

Every problem we're seeing now was not only foreseeable, but was actually predicted by the intelligence agencies.

Nick Schifrin:

It also became the focus of today's Senate Intelligence Committee threat assessment hearing with the leaders of the intelligence community.

Sen. Angus King (I-ME):

There seems to be a discrepancy between what the Intelligence Committee has -- community has reported over the years and what the president has said.

Nick Schifrin:

Like these comments on Monday.

Donald Trump:

So they hit Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait. Nobody expected that. We were shocked.

Nick Schifrin:

In fact, four weeks before the war, then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei posted on X in English: "The Americans should know, if they start a war, this time, it will be a regional war."

Sen. Angus King:

The president says nobody knew. And my question is, did you tell him?

John Ratcliffe, CIA Director:

The comments that you talked about, I had not heard. But what I can tell you is that Iran had specific plans to hit U.S. interests in energy sites across the region.

Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Director of National Intelligence: This has long been an assessment of the I.C. that Iran would likely hold the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.

Sen. Angus King:

And my question is, was that communicated to the president in the lead-up to this action?

Tulsi Gabbard:

And it's because of that longstanding assessment that the I.C. has continued to report that the Department of War took the preemptive planning measures that it did.

Nick Schifrin:

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also made this assessment of Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Tulsi Gabbard:

Iran was trying to recover from the severe damage to its nuclear infrastructure sustained during the 12-day war and continued to refuse to comply with its nuclear obligations with the IAEA, refusing them access to key facilities.

Nick Schifrin:

But in her prepared testimony confirmed by her staff to PBS "News Hour," Gabbard wrote instead -- quote -- "As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated. There has been no effort since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability."

That directly refutes President Trump's State of the Union.

Donald Trump:

They were warned to make no future attempts to rebuild their weapons program, in particular, nuclear weapons, yet they continue. They're starting it all over. We wiped it out and they want to start all over again.

Nick Schifrin:

Prewar presidential statements help lead to yesterday's resignation by National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, who wrote -- quote -- "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation."

Tulsi Gabbard:

It is not the intelligence community's responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat.

(Crosstalk)

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA):

OK, here's the problem. No, it is precisely your responsibility to determine what constitutes a threat to the United States.

Nick Schifrin:

Republicans emphasized Iran's overall decades-long threats, its nuclear program, and the Middle East's largest missile arsenal.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX):

Is there anything to indicate that Iran had ceased in its nuclear ambitions or in its desire to continue to build ballistic missiles capable of threatening American troops and allies in the Middle East?

John Ratcliffe:

Senator, no. In fact, the intelligence reflects the contrary.

Sen. John Cornyn:

So you disagree with Mr. Kent?

John Ratcliffe:

I do.

Nick Schifrin:

Today, the war also intensified in Beirut. Multiple videos recorded the moment an Israeli airstrike reduced this residential building to rubble and smoke.

The Israeli army said the building hid millions of dollars for Hezbollah and warned residents before the strike. The war has become a nightly deadly drumbeat. Overnight, Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel carrying cluster bombs. One strike hit this apartment outside Tel Aviv, killing a couple inside.

For the PBS "News Hour," I'm Nick Schifrin.