A classified report from the National Intelligence Council (NIC) just delivered a harsh reality check to President Trump’s ambitious plans for reshaping Iran. The assessment suggests that even a massive U.S. military assault would likely fail to dislodge the Islamic Republic’s deeply entrenched military and clerical establishment.
These findings, confirmed by three individuals familiar with the report’s contents, cast doubt on Trump’s stated goal to “clean out” Iran’s leadership and install a new ruler of his choosing. The Washington Post reports that the NIC is comprised of veteran analysts from Washington’s 18 intelligence agencies. They produce classified assessments that represent the collective wisdom of the U.S. intelligence community.
