Former CIA operative: regime change in Iran is much harder than the US thinks - Financial Times

Financial Times
April 4, 2026
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3 min read

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Former CIA operative warned that achieving regime change in Iran would be much harder than U.S. policymakers generally assume.

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A former CIA operative has warned that achieving regime change in Iran would prove far more difficult than U.S. policymakers generally assume, according to a Financial Times report. The assessment suggests the Iranian government has deeper institutional resilience and popular support in key constituencies than Western analysts typically credit. This analysis carries weight given ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran, and comes as the Trump administration maintains a hardline posture toward Iran's nuclear program and regional activities. The operative's warning reflects longstanding debate within intelligence and policy circles about the feasibility and costs of forcibly altering Iran's government. The commentary underscores skepticism about quick military or covert solutions to U.S.-Iran confrontation.

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