Ex-CIA Officer Says The Agency Delivered The Same Iran Verdict Three Times Before The War

What happened: Former CIA officer John Kiriakou said on Judging Freedom that the CIA published three national intelligence estimates before the Iran war, each concluding Tehran had no nuclear weapons program. Key numbers: Three estimates; March 2025 DNI testimony; 92 million people; one million ground troops cited for conquest. Why it matters: Kiriakou said CIA analysts consistently viewed the war as a bad idea and assessed Iran as tougher than policymakers believed. He and Larry Johnson argued the policy cost Republicans in the midterms.

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou said on Judging Freedom that the CIA published three national intelligence estimates before the Iran war, each concluding Tehran had no nuclear weapons program.

Kiriakou said CIA analysts consistently viewed the war as a bad idea and assessed Iran as tougher than policymakers believed. He and Larry Johnson argued the policy cost Republicans in the midterms.