Former CIA chief John Brennan accuses Donald Trump of helplessness and deliberate deception in the Iran conflict. A former general also sees the USA at a disadvantage.
March 26, 2026, 11:16 amMarch 26, 2026, 11:16 am
Thomas Wanhoff / t-online
The former director of the US secret service CIA, John Brennan, sees current statements by US President Donald Trump about the Iran war as an “act of helplessness”. Trump had discussed talks with Tehran at the beginning of the week, but also threatened further strikes.
John Brennan was head of the US secret service CIA. He heavily criticizes Trump.Image: keystone
In an interview with the US broadcaster MS Now, the ex-secret service chief said: “Trump cannot stand the truth, even if it hits him in the face several times.” According to Brennan, Trump is now trying to “find a way out of the mess he created.” Despite the American-Israeli attacks on Iran, the leadership in Tehran is still able to carry out counterattacks on Israel and Arab countries and has largely paralyzed shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for world trade.
But the ex-director does not believe in direct discussions. “Nothing that Trump said is close to the truth.” There are attempts by mediators such as Egypt and Turkey to find a solution. But there is no official negotiation between the USA and Iran.
“I think the president is lying, but that’s just my opinion. I tend to believe Iran more than Trump.”
Brennan began his career at the CIA in the 1980s. He gained particular influence after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, first as an advisor in the White House and later as the top counterterrorism officer. In 2013, Brennan was appointed director of the CIA, a post he held until the end of Barack Obama’s term in 2017.
Iran: No negotiations took place
On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also reiterated that there are no direct talks. He denied negotiating with the US to end the Iran war and rejected talks with Washington. “We have no intention of negotiating – no negotiations have taken place so far, and I believe that our position is completely principled,” Araghchi said on Iranian state television on Wednesday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.Image: keystone
Retired US General Steven Anderson, who served as head of logistics in the first Iraq war, also sees Trump’s mistakes in the Iran war. “In January he said to Zelensky: You don’t have any good cards in your hand. That was a mistake, he just couldn’t see the cards. And he’s making the same mistake now in Iran,” Anderson said on MS Now. Tehran has good cards in its hand: it has the will to fight, they have the Strait of Hormuz under control, and “they still have their enriched uranium.”
Brennan: Türkiye and Egypt could help
CIA expert Brennan admitted to Trump that he had significantly decimated the Iranian military through past attacks. “But they still want to fight and not give up. And the enriched uranium that is still hidden somewhere is worrying,” said the 70-year-old. In addition, the regime is still in power. He believes that Turkey and Egypt are now trying to persuade both sides to stop fighting. Then we could also talk about how ships could sail safely through the Strait of Hormuz again.
The English-language Iranian foreign television station Press TV had previously reported that Tehran had rejected a US “proposal” for an end to the fighting. Pakistani government officials had previously confirmed that their country had sent Iran a 15-point peace plan drawn up by the United States. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt had previously said US media reports about the plan contained “elements of truth”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said of the talks that messages would be exchanged through “friendly countries or different people.” But this is “neither a dialogue nor a negotiation”.