Signs of Iranian Strategy

Posted: August 26th, 2019

By Norman T. Roule

Norman T. Roule is a geopolitical and energy consultant who served for 34 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing numerous programs relating to Iran and the Middle East. He served as the National Intelligence Manager for Iran (NIM-I) at the ODNI from 2008 until 2017. As NIM-I, he was the principal Intelligence Community (IC) official responsible for overseeing all aspects of national intelligence policy and activities related to Iran, to include IC engagement on Iran issues with senior policymakers in the National Security Council and the Department of State.

It was a busy weekend of activity for Iran, much of it rooted in its desire to seek ways around U.S. sanctions that are targeting its ability to sell oil around the world.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was the Biarritz surprise over the weekend as Group of Seven (G7) leaders met in the French coastal town. Reporters and White House officials were taken by surprise when Zarif arrived on Sunday, though U.S. President Donald Trump said that summit host, French President Emmanuel Macron, had sought Trump’s approval ahead of time. Zarif met with French officials who are trying to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal that the U.S. backed out of in 2018. Trump, who did not meet with Zarif, said that he is not seeking regime change in Iran and that he is looking to make Iran ‘rich again’.

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