In testimony before the House Oversight Committee, former National Counterterrorism Center Director Christopher Miller stated he was prevented from sharing his concerns about the potential for war with Iran directly with President Donald Trump in 2020. Miller, who served as acting defense secretary at the end of Trump's term, said his warnings were filtered through then-National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien.
Miller testified that he believed the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020 could have led to a broader conflict. He expressed concern that the decision-making process did not allow for a full vetting of the potential consequences of the strike, which was conducted by drone.
The hearing focused on the transparency of national security decisions during the Trump administration. Miller's account adds to the historical record of internal deliberations following the high-profile operation that significantly escalated tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
