The Trump administration has shifted its strategic objective in Iran from deterrence to potential regime change, with the President actively pushing the Pentagon for “decisive” military options that could topple the Islamic Republic without triggering a prolonged war, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal.
Sources familiar with the high-level discussions told the Journal that President Trump has expressed frustration with limited strike packages that only target nuclear or proxy sites. Instead, he has directed defense chiefs to present options that would deliver a “knockout blow” to the regime’s command and control structure. “He wants the leadership gone, but he doesn’t want boots on the ground,” one official said.
This pivot aligns with intelligence confirming that the U.S. military buildup in the region is entering its final phase. “Everything will be in place very soon,” a senior Defense official confirmed. The logistical map supports this assessment:
* Strike Assets: The USS Abraham Lincoln is days away from the Arabian Sea, and advanced F-15E Strike Eagles have already deployed to Jordan.
* Heavy Bombers: The surge of airlift into Diego Garcia indicates that B-1 or B-2 bombers are being pre-positioned for sustained heavy bombardment.
* Intelligence: The Journal reports that the CIA and Israeli Mossad have intensified efforts to identify cracks in the loyalty of the IRGC, hoping to trigger an internal collapse once the first strikes land.
The Journal notes that this aggressive posture is partially driven by the President’s belief that the “Jan 8 Massacre” has stripped the Ayatollah of all domestic legitimacy, creating a unique window of opportunity. However, Pentagon planners remain cautious, warning that a failed “decapitation” strike could lead to a chaotic regional conflagration that drags the U.S. into the very quagmire Trump seeks to avoid.
For now, the pieces are moving into checkmate positions. The order to strike has not been given, but the gun is being loaded, and for the first time, the target isn’t just a nuclear facility—it’s the survival of the regime itself.
Footage Charlie Kirk has been shot
Charlie Kirk has been shot
