Representatives of the American Pentagon informed members of Congress at a closed briefing that intelligence services had little evidence suggesting Iran was planning a preemptive attack on American forces, even though the US and Israel military operations against Iran were already under way.

The briefings were held after the American president confirmed that the US had launched "massive military operations" against Iran, stating that the strikes had the goal of "defending the American people" and eliminating the threats posed by the Iranian regime. On Truth Social, it was also reported that American forces had destroyed and sunk nine Iranian military ships, including also large vessels.

Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress criticised the administration, calling this conflict a "chosen war" and questioning the narratives of self-defence. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that only 27 percent of Americans approve the strikes, 43 percent are opposed, and 29 percent are undecided.

The briefing undermined the main arguments the American administration used to justify the military activities, putting additional pressure on the White House to explain the reasons behind the decision to intervene. The mediator Oman had previously assessed that negotiations between the US and Iran had prospects for success, but the conflict has put an end to diplomatic efforts.

The situation in the region remains extremely volatile. The escalation of the Middle East conflict continues to cause concern at the international level, and the crisis is increasingly testing the unity and consistency of Western allies.