

Senators Briefed On U.S. Strikes In Iran, Offer Conflicting Reaction
Jun 27, 2025
Norman Roule, a former senior operations manager with the CIA and now a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, shares insights on the complex relationship between the U.S. and Iran. He discusses the conflicting reactions from senators following a closed briefing on U.S. military operations. Roule emphasizes the importance of diplomacy over military action while examining Iran's nuclear capabilities and the precarious situation of its leadership under pressure. The need for accurate intelligence and the role it plays in shaping policy are also highlighted.
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Need for Diplomacy After Strikes
- Much assessment of the Iran strikes' damage is yet to be done due to lack of inspection access.
- Diplomacy is essential to forge a sustainable peace and resolve nuclear program concerns.
Deeper Analysis Reveals Devastation
- Intelligence and military work together over time to form a detailed picture of Iran's nuclear status.
- The nuclear program is devastated, with major facilities no longer intact.
Challenging to Detect Unknown Sites
- Intelligence agencies rigorously search for unknown sites or moved uranium but proving negatives is difficult.
- Major unacceptable sites wouldn't be ignored or unaddressed by US or allied intelligence or military.