Trump was informed about the possibility of Iranian strikes on Gulf allies, according to sources
US President Donald Trump received warnings that an attack on Iran might lead to retaliation against American allies in the Gulf, even though he claimed that Tehran’s response was unexpected, as reported by a US official and sources knowledgeable about intelligence briefings.
Officials indicated that pre-war intelligence assessments had identified Iranian retaliation as a potential outcome, though not guaranteed. One source indicated it was “certainly on the list of potential outcomes,” even if not assured.
On Monday, the president remarked on two occasions that the attacks by Iran on Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait were unforeseen, initially expressing this during a meeting at the White House.
“They were not meant to pursue all these other nations in the Middle East,” Trump stated. “No one saw that coming.” We were taken aback.
His comments emerged alongside wider assertions from the administration that lack support from US intelligence, including claims regarding Iran’s missile capabilities and the pace at which it could advance its nuclear weapon development.
Concerns regarding these issues, coupled with assertions of an impending threat to US forces, were among the justifications provided by Trump and senior aides for collaborating with Israel in initiating air strikes against Iran on February 28.
Reports suggested that Trump received a briefing prior to the operation, highlighting the possibility of Iran attempting to disrupt shipping in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
In the weeks that followed, Iranian drones and missiles targeted various locations across Gulf states, including US military installations, an Emirati base accommodating French troops, and civilian infrastructure like airports, hotels, and energy facilities.
Tehran has effectively stopped most traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for about 20% of global oil supplies, leading to a significant increase in energy prices.
At the same time, Democratic lawmakers expressed that the briefings from the administration failed to provide evidence of an imminent threat that would warrant the joint US-Israeli military action.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has chosen not to comment.
A US official indicated that Trump had been warned that military action against Iran might lead to a broader regional conflict, especially if Tehran perceived Gulf nations as backing or enabling the strikes.
Later, during a speech at the White House, Trump emphasized once more that he had not received any warnings about such risks.
“No one, no one… even the top experts, no one anticipated they would succeed,” he stated.
A second source familiar with the intelligence assessments noted that US agencies had foreseen Israel’s strategy, particularly the efforts to target senior Iranian leaders, which could provoke reprisals against American military and diplomatic sites, as well as allied nations in the region.
The withdrawal of diplomatic staff from multiple US embassies in the region was initiated only after the air strikes began, the source noted, despite prior alerts indicating that Iran might expand its retaliation.
