A plan to destabilize Iran
The week's news at a glance.
Tehran
President Bush has instructed the CIA to start a nonlethal, covert operation to destabilize the Iranian government, ABC News reported this week. Quoting current and former intelligence officials, the report said the campaign involves spreading disinformation and propaganda, as well as interfering in Iran’s financial transactions. Iran has long accused the U.S. and Britain of attempting to undermine its regime by funding ethnic separatists. “Everybody in the region knows that there is a proxy war already afoot,” with the U.S. supporting Iranian opposition groups, said Vali Nasr of the Council on Foreign Relations. Analysts said the approval of covert action means that the Bush administration has—at least for now—ruled out military action to stop Iran’s nuclear programs. U.N. nuclear experts said last week that Iran has dramatically increased its ability to produce nuclear fuel.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?
Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Not there yet: The frustrations of the pocket AI
Feature Apple rushes to roll out its ‘Apple Intelligence’ features but fails to deliver on promises
By The Week US Published
-
George Foreman: The boxing champ who reinvented home grills
Feature He helped define boxing’s golden era
By The Week US Published