Julian Dorey is an American YouTuber and podcaster whose interview programme, Trendifier, better known under his own name, has gained prominence in recent years. The show is built around long-form conversations and regularly features guests with backgrounds in security and intelligence, as well as figures known for controversial analyses that often echo in the mainstream media.
The latest episode featured John Kiriakou, a former counter-terrorism officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. The interview was recorded on Friday and released on Sunday, 22 February. Kiriakou, who served a prison sentence after exposing the CIA’s use of waterboarding and for revealing the identity of an undercover operative, has since become a vocal critic of what he describes as Washington’s interventionist foreign policy.
During the interview, Kiriakou referred to the ten-day deadline recently issued by the US president to Tehran, demanding compliance with Washington’s conditions, including halting Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes and ending support for proxy groups. He cautioned against taking such deadlines at face value.
“Well, he’ll give you 10 days, he’ll give you two weeks, and then he’ll just attack two days into it. He thinks that keeps people off balance.”
The former CIA agent said that within the US administration divisions had formed; According to him, an anti-war bloc is led by Vice President JD Vance and Tulsi Gabbard, alongside the director of national intelligence. In contrast, he described a pro-intervention camp pushing for military action against Iran, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Expressing surprise at the Army Joint Chiefs shift in stance, he noted that Trump has reshuffled many top commanders over the past 12 months, replacing people who are more politically loyal to him.
In the podcast, Kiriakou also argued that high-profile announcements — such as Trump’s order to publicly release documents related to unidentified flying objects — could be intended to divert public attention from impending military decisions. Citing information he said came from a former colleague in the White House, he claimed the US was preparing to strike Iran as early as Monday or Tuesday, 23–24 February.
US officials have not responded publicly to the claims made by the former CIA officer.
Quoted from Euronews.
