Former CIA Lead National Intelligence Officer for Iran, Norman Roule, has said the leadership of Iran is not only focused on winning the ongoing conflict but also on ensuring its long-term survival after the war ends.
Roule made the remarks during an interview with NewsNation on Saturday, March 14, 2026, where he discussed the strategic mindset of Iran’s ruling establishment amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
According to the former intelligence official, the current leadership circle in Tehran consists largely of figures who were selected by the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and who share a similar ideological outlook about preserving the Islamic Republic. See More/Details