Pentagon in turmoil as sensitive Iran war information leaks, polygraph tests conducted on 50 US personnel

WASHINGTON, September 5: The Pentagon has been shaken by an investigation into the leak of sensitive information related to the Iran war, with US authorities conducting polygraph tests on around 50 military officers and civilian personnel associated with the Joint Staff.

According to US media reports, the testing was carried out in August as part of an effort to identify the source of classified information that reached the media concerning US weapons and ammunition stockpiles used during the conflict with Iran.

The investigation is primarily focused on reports revealing shortages in some of the US military’s most critical and limited warfighting resources, including long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors.

US officials are particularly concerned about how information regarding the depletion of these weapons reached journalists because details about the size and availability of American weapons stocks can provide valuable insight into the US military’s operational capabilities and readiness.

The leaked information is considered sensitive because knowledge of declining stockpiles could potentially allow adversaries to assess how long the United States could sustain military operations, identify potential weaknesses in its air and missile defence capabilities, and make assessments about future US military planning.

Investigators have therefore been trying to determine which officials had access to the information and whether any of them disclosed it, directly or indirectly, to members of the media.

The inquiry has also examined whether the disclosure was simply an unauthorised leak by a government employee or whether there were broader national security concerns, including the possibility that sensitive information may have reached individuals or entities with foreign connections.

The approximately 50 military and civilian personnel subjected to polygraph examinations were questioned about their access to sensitive information and possible contacts with journalists. However, according to reports, the tests did not produce a clear result identifying the person responsible for the alleged leak.

The US Department of Defense has declined to provide details about individual personnel or the ongoing investigation, but officials have stressed that unauthorised disclosure of classified information is regarded as a serious national security matter.

The investigation comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Pentagon’s handling of sensitive information following the Iran war. US authorities are seeking to tighten control over classified material and determine how information about military capabilities and weapons availability has reached the press.

The issue is particularly sensitive because the leaked information concerns weapons that were actually used during the conflict. Any significant depletion of such systems could have implications for US operational readiness and the military’s ability to respond to another major conflict.

US President Donald Trump has also expressed strong anger over leaks involving sensitive military information, while Pentagon officials continue efforts to identify those responsible.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no individual has so far been publicly identified or formally blamed for the alleged disclosure.