Norman T. Roule

Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program
Norman T. Roule

Norman T. Roule is a non-resident senior adviser with the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Mr. Roule served for 34 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing numerous programs relating to the Middle East. Mr. Roule’s service in the CIA’s Directorate of Operations included roles as division chief and chief of station. He has held multiple senior intelligence assignments in Washington, as well as during over 15 years of overseas work. He served as the national intelligence manager for Iran (NIM-I) at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from November 2008 until September 2017. As NIM-I, he was the principal intelligence community (IC) official responsible for overseeing national intelligence policy and activities related to Iran and Iran-related issues, to include IC engagement on these topics with senior policymakers in the National Security Council, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and Congress. Mr. Roule received multiple national intelligence awards during his career. Mr. Roule currently works as a business consultant on Middle East political, security, military, economic, and energy issues with an emphasis on the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Iran. He maintains close contacts with regional political and economic leadership. Mr. Roule is currently a non-resident fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, a non-resident fellow at the George Mason University National Security Institute, and an Associate Fellow at the Middle East Institute. He also serves as senior adviser to the Counter Extremism Project, and United Against Nuclear Iran. He is a regular contributor to The Cipher Brief.

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The Last Line of Defense

Inside Iran's Security Apparatus: How Stable is the Regime?

Host Seth Jones speaks with Norman Roule, who served as the national intelligence manager for Iran at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from November 2008 until September 2017.

Podcast Episode by Seth G. Jones and Norman T. Roule — January 21, 2026

The Last Line of Defence
The Truth of the Matter

How Might Iran Conflict End?

CSIS’s Norm Roule, a former senior U.S. intelligence officer for the Middle East joins the podcast to discuss how conflict with Iran might end, what regime change could look like, the wider implications for the United States and the region and more.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Norman T. Roule — June 20, 2025

CSIS the truth of the matter
The Truth of the Matter

Trump's Muscular Middle East Policy

Former CIA Middle East expert Norman Roule joins the podcast to discuss President Trump’s muscular approach to the Houthis in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Norman T. Roule — March 19, 2025

CSIS the truth of the matter
The Truth of the Matter

Piecing Together What Happened in Syria

CSIS's Norman Roule joins the podcast to discuss the actors that enabled the Assad regime to survive for so long, how bureaucratic rot in Russia and Iran enabled Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to move south so quickly, and actions the U.S. can take to support peace in the region.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Norman T. Roule — December 12, 2024

CSIS the truth of the matter
The Truth of the Matter

War in Lebanon

CSIS’s Norman Roule, who served for 34 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing significant programs relating to the Middle East, joins the podcast to discuss the war between Israel and Hezbollah and its wider implications for the region.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Norman T. Roule — September 25, 2024

CSIS the truth of the matter
The Truth of the Matter

Unknown Mideast Redlines

CSIS’ Norm Rule, who served for 34 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing significant programs relating to the Middle East, joins the podcast to discuss Iran and what it may do in retaliation for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Norman T. Roule — August 9, 2024

CSIS the truth of the matter
The Truth of the Matter

Iran’s Next Act & Houthis' Next Move

CSIS’s Norman Roule, who served in the Central Intelligence Agency for over three decades, joins the podcast to discuss the recent election in Iran and what it means for the United States. In addition, Roule discusses Iran’s role in attempting to influence the Middle East and Africa, plus a conversation about the Houthi activities in the Red Sea.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Norman T. Roule — July 15, 2024

CSIS the truth of the matter
The Truth of the Matter

U.S. Targets Baghdad

CSIS’ Norman Roule joins the podcast to discuss the recent U.S. strike in Baghdad and what U.S. policy is seeking to achieve in the Middle East in combating Iranian proxies. 

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Norman T. Roule — February 9, 2024

CSIS the truth of the matter
The Truth of the Matter

Wider War in Mideast

Former national intelligence manager for Iran at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, CIA senior official and current CSIS senior adviser Norman Roule joins the podcast to discuss the war in Gaza against Hamas and how Iran and its proxies are provoking a potentially expanded Mideast war.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Norman T. Roule — January 9, 2024

CSIS the truth of the matter

Press Briefing: Latest Insights on Israel-Hamas War

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will host a call-in press briefing on Friday, October 13, at 11:00 a.m. ET, to present expert insights on the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas War.

Event — October 13, 2023