Former CIA director David Petraeus tells BBC News that the operation in Iran was an “extraordinary intelligence success” but he adds that “we don’t know what will follow”.
He notes that while Tehran earlier announced an interim leadership, we have “heard nothing from them”, adding that he’s “confident” they are not using mobile phones because of the electronic signature.
Asked about Khamenei’s successor, Petraeus says “one generally thinks the Assembly of Experts will select someone who is another hardline clerical ideologue”. But, within the regime, there are also people “who are much more pragmatic”, he says.
- For context: The Assembly of Experts is a constitutional body consisting of 88 members, responsible for both the election and supervision of the supreme leader
On whether the Iranian regime can be overthrown without ground force, Petraeus says it “depends on who emerges”. But he is “quite confident” that Donald Trump “does not want to do that”.
BBC
