US President Donald Trump said yesterday he was considering a limited military strike to pressure Iran over its nuclear programme.
“I guess I can say I am considering that,” Trump said when asked by a reporter at a White House breakfast with US governors.
Two US officials told Reuters that US military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing regime change in Tehran, if ordered by Trump.
The military options are the latest signs that the United States is preparing for a serious conflict with Iran should diplomatic efforts fail. Reuters first reported last week that the US military is preparing for a sustained, weeks-long operation against Iran that could include striking Iranian security facilities as well as nuclear infrastructure.
The latest revelations suggest more granular, ambitious planning ahead of a decision by Trump, who has in recent days publicly floated the idea of regime change in the Islamic Republic.
The two US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the planning, did not offer further details on which individuals could be targeted or how the US military could attempt to carry out regime change without a large ground force.
One of the US officials noted Israel’s success targeting Iranian leaders during its 12-day war with Iran last year. At the time, regional sources told Reuters at least 20 senior commanders were killed, including the armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri.
“The 12-day war and Israeli strikes against individual targets really showed the utility of that approach,” the US official said, adding that the focus was on those involved in command and control of IRGC forces.
Still, the official cautioned that targeting individuals requires additional intelligence resources. Killing a particular military commander would mean knowing their exact location and understanding who else might be harmed in the operation.
It was unclear to the two officials who spoke with Reuters what intelligence the US has on Iranian leaders who could potentially be targeted by the United States.
A massive US military buildup is underway in the Middle East. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is in the region. A second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, is en route.
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