Inside Iran's Covert Operations | Jon Hackett | Ep. 368

In this conversation, Jonathan Hackett shares his extensive experience in the Marine Corps, focusing on his transition from signals intelligence (SIGINT) to human intelligence (HUMINT) and his operations in Iraq. He discusses the complexities of Iran's intelligence landscape, including the roles of the IRGC and Vaja, and the impact of economic sanctions on the Iranian regime. Hackett also delves into the targets of Iranian intelligence operations, the concept of sacred talismans in Iranian politics, and the ongoing threat of assassination attempts against dissidents. The conversation highlights the intricate dynamics of intelligence work and the challenges faced by operatives in the field. In this conversation, Jonathan W. Hackett discusses various aspects of Iran's covert operations, intelligence collection, and military strategies. He delves into the evolution of Iran's cyber capabilities, the impact of sanctions, and the complexities of their unconventional warfare. The discussion also covers the Iran Experts Initiative, the dynamics of coalition operations against ISIS, and the implications of cyber operations on U.S. intelligence. Hackett emphasizes the importance of understanding Iran's historical context and regional influence, as well as the challenges in assessing threats posed by proxy groups on U.S. soil.Grab Jonathan's new book here!https://www.amazon.com/Irans-Shadow-Weapons-Intelligence-Unconventional/dp/1476696934Today's Sponsors:GhostBed⬇️https://www.ghostbed.com/houseFOR 10% off! PIA VPN ⬇️https://piavpn.com/TeamHouseFor 83% off plus 4 months free!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For ad free video and audio and access to live streams and Eyes On Geopolitics...JOIN OUR PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouseTo help support the show and for all bonus content including:-live shows and asking guest questions -ad free audio and video-early access to shows-Access to ALL bonus segments with our guestsSubscribe to our Patreon! ⬇️https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouseSupport the show here:⬇️https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse___________________________________________________Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured__________________________________Jack Murphy's new book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/——————————————————————Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️https://ko-fi.com/theteamhouseSocial Media: ⬇️The Team House Instagram:https://instagram.com/the.team.house?utm_medium=copy_linkThe Team House Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheTeamHousePodJack’s Instagram:https://instagram.com/jackmcmurph?utm_medium=copy_linkJack’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackmurphyrgr?s=21Dave’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/dave_parke?s=21Team House Discord: ⬇️https://discord.gg/wHFHYM6SubReddit: ⬇️https://www.reddit.com/r/TheTeamHouse/Jack Murphy's memoir "Murphy's Law" can be found here:⬇️ https://www.amazon.com/Murphys-Law-Journey-Investigative-Journalist/dp/1501191241The Team Room Reading Room (Amazon Affiliate links):⬇️ https://jackmurphywrites.com/the-team-room-reading-room/Intro music by https://www.youtube.com/user/RemixSample"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"00:00 Jonathan Hackett's Marine Corps Journey02:57 Counterintelligence Operations in Iraq05:52 Transitioning from SIGINT to Human Intelligence09:06 Insights on Iran's Intelligence Landscape12:07 The Role of the IRGC and Vaja17:48 The Impact of Sanctions on Iran20:59 Iran's Intelligence Targets and Operations35:09 Iran's Ethnic Tensions and Separatist Movements39:43 The Role of Diplomatic Cover in Intelligence46:00 Assassination Attempts and Targeted Operations53:18 Iran's Covert Influence Operations55:53 The Evolution of Iran's Cyber Capabilities01:08:03 Circumventing Sanctions: Iran's Financial Strategies01:17:58 Coalitions Against ISIS: A Complex Relationship01:22:01 The Fallout of Exposed Intelligence Programs01:26:39 Iran's Support in the Bosnian Civil War01:29:03 Hezbollah's Presence and Operations in the U.S.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support.