Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump is weighing potential military actions against Iran, including targeted strikes on security forces and senior figures, in an effort to revive anti-government protests that were crushed earlier this month, Reuters reported citing multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
Two US officials said Trump has been exploring ways to create conditions for what he views as a possible change in Iran’s leadership. Options under consideration include strikes against commanders and institutions blamed by Washington for the violent crackdown, with the aim of emboldening protesters to challenge government and security installations.
One source said broader military action is also being discussed, including strikes designed to have longer-term impact, potentially targeting Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities or its nuclear enrichment facilities. However, another official stressed that no final decision has been taken and that military action remains one of several options on the table, the reported added.
The recent deployment of a US aircraft carrier and accompanying warships to the Middle East has significantly expanded Washington’s military capabilities in the region, following repeated warnings by Trump over Iran’s handling of the unrest.
Despite these preparations, concerns are growing among US allies. Four Arab officials, three Western diplomats, and a senior Western source briefed on the discussions warned that strikes could further weaken a protest movement already reeling from the crackdown, rather than reigniting mass demonstrations.
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Trump on Wednesday urged Tehran to negotiate a nuclear deal, warning that any future US attack would be more severe than the June strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. He referred to US naval forces in the region as an “armada” heading toward Iran.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran was preparing for a possible military confrontation while still pursuing diplomatic channels, but said Washington was showing little interest in talks. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is purely civilian and said it would defend itself “like never before” if attacked.
Israeli officials have privately expressed scepticism that airstrikes alone could achieve Washington’s apparent objective. A senior Israeli official with direct knowledge of US-Israeli planning said toppling Iran’s system would require ground forces, noting that even the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would not necessarily bring the system down, Reuters added.
“Even then, another leader would emerge,” the official said, adding that only a combination of sustained external pressure and an organised domestic opposition could alter Iran’s political direction.
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Western intelligence assessments largely echo this view, concluding that while Iran’s leadership has been weakened by unrest and economic pressure, it remains firmly in control and has not suffered decisive internal fractures.
Another Western source said Trump’s apparent aim may be to engineer a leadership transition rather than dismantle the entire system, an outcome likened to Venezuela, where US-backed pressure led to a change in leadership without regime collapse.
