Dan Bongino criticized former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent’s assertion that Iran posed no imminent threat, arguing that available intelligence and publicly known information point to a different conclusion.

Bongino made the remarks during an interview, responding directly to Kent’s claims about the circumstances surrounding U.S. involvement in the conflict with Iran.

Kent had previously stated that Iran did not present an immediate danger, a position Bongino disputed by citing both his own experience reviewing intelligence and the role of the National Counterterrorism Center.

“Isn’t on a plaque in a facility I can’t really talk about. And when you read the story there, it’s tough story to read. But you know, again, as I’ve said with other Yeah, the sacrifice is beyond reproach. That doesn’t mean that this current opinion is any more fact based, because it’s not. I’m really sorry, Laura. I mean, I read probably a lot more intelligence than he did, because they don’t have a law enforcement function, the National Counterterrorism Center. They’re an analytical clearing house. They’re valuable. However, I had access to just about everything and how you could come to the conclusion that the Israelis did it and there was no imminent threat here, really.”

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Bongino emphasized that the National Counterterrorism Center primarily serves as an analytical entity rather than an operational or law enforcement body, while noting his own exposure to intelligence information during his career.

He argued that the available data, including publicly known developments, contradicts the claim that Iran did not pose an immediate threat.

“What about the anti-ship ballistic missiles, the drone program, 440 kilograms of 60% enriched nuclear material, their constant Death to America, chance. I mean, you know, that’s called evidence, in some limited circles, we call that, you know, a clue.”

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Bongino pointed to specific factors he said should be considered when assessing the threat level, including Iran’s missile capabilities, its drone program, and its stockpile of enriched uranium. He also referenced Iran’s repeated anti-American rhetoric as part of the broader context.

He further stated that even the information available publicly supports the conclusion that Iran represented an imminent threat.

“I mean, I don’t know at what point you thought this wasn’t an imminent threat. After you’ve read a lot of the stuff I read, and by the way, that’s just the open source stuff we can talk about on the air.”

Bongino also suggested that classified intelligence held by the administration would reinforce that assessment if it were made public.

“I promise you, the President, I promise you, has a bevy of material that if he could do the men in black thing and erase your mind tomorrow, if he told you right now, you would come to the imminent threat conclusion in a snap.”

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The exchange highlights ongoing debate over the intelligence and assessments related to Iran’s capabilities and intentions.

The National Counterterrorism Center, referenced in the discussion, plays a role in analyzing and synthesizing intelligence across agencies, though it does not conduct law enforcement operations.

 

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