Trump denies, but sources say US leader was warned of Iran’s potential retaliation against Gulf allies

US President Donald Trump was warned that attacking Iran could trigger retaliation against US Gulf allies despite his claims on Monday ​that Tehran’s reaction came as a surprise, Reuters writes, citing a US official and two sources familiar with US intelligence.

Pre-war ‌intelligence assessments did not say that Iran’s response was “a guarantee, but it certainly was on the list of potential outcomes,” said one source, who like the other two requested anonymity to discuss the issue.

The US president twice on Monday said that Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait were ​a surprise.

“Nobody expected that. We were shocked,” he said.

Trump’s assertion followed other administration claims ⁠that have not been backed by US intelligence reporting, such as that Iran would soon have a missile capable of hitting the US and that it would need two to four weeks to make a nuclear bomb and would then use it.

Trump was also briefed ahead of the operation that Tehran would likely seek ​to close the economically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to two other sources familiar with the matter.

A US ​official said that Trump was ⁠briefed before the war that striking Iran could trigger a broader regional conflict that would include Iranian retaliation against Gulf capitals, especially if Tehran saw those countries condoning or actively supporting the US attacks.