Pentagon Subjects Joint Staff to Polygraph Spree Over Iran War Leaks

The internal investigation, first reported by The New York Times, was designed to identify individuals responsible for disclosing classified information regarding the military’s depleted weapon stockpiles. Sources describe the atmosphere inside the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as one of deepening paranoia, with the polygraph sessions appearing to serve both as a search for sources and a deterrent against future disclosures. Retired Rear Admiral Donald J. Guter noted that he has never witnessed such broad use of lie-detector tests at this level of seniority, labeling the move unprecedented.

Simultaneously, new intelligence assessments suggest Iran is preparing for a protracted conflict, banking on the prospect of exacerbating President Trump’s political challenges ahead of the midterm elections. The administration’s unauthorized military campaign has triggered a surge in energy costs, with American consumers paying an estimated $71.5 billion more at the pump. Following the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world’s oil supply typically passes, the American Automobile Association reported that diesel prices have reached a record high of $5.88 per gallon.