Dramatic Escalation in Middle East
Trump Hopes for Iranian Regime's Fall; U.S. Army Needs 'More Time' To Prepare Iranian Op
The geriatric ayatollahs are begging for mercy from a world that's finally had enough of their apocalyptic nonsense and is ready to flush them where they belong, leaving Iran to rise from the ashes.
Nationwide protests in Iran have intensified into their third week, with no abatement in sight despite a brutal government response, as Iranian leaders pledge to ramp up confrontations with demonstrators.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, breaking days of silence on the unrest, publicly blamed Israel and the United States for fueling the chaos, branding protesters as "terrorists" orchestrated by foreign entities to sow instability post the 12-day war with Israel. He accused them of murdering innocents, arson on mosques, and widespread destruction.
Sparked on December 28, 2025, by economic grievances like inflation, the demonstrations have ballooned into demands for regime change, engulfing all 31 provinces.
Casualties mount, with at least 100 security forces reported dead, protesters' deaths estimated between 116 and over 200 by rights groups, and arrests exceeding 2,600 under a blanket internet shutdown to stifle organization and conceal atrocities. Iran's police commander has signaled an imminent escalation in enforcement tactics.
The number of casualties is probably much higher than what has been reported so far.
U.S. President Donald Trump, amid reports of contemplating airstrikes on critical Iranian infrastructure, reposted on X a message wishing for the downfall of the Ayatollah regime after 47 years of control.
The original post envisioned 2026 as a year of "amazing victories" with regime collapses in multiple hotspots, including Iran. Trump, briefed on enhanced military strategies, affirmed on Friday that America would act if protesters are massacred, excluding ground troop involvement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio conferred with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the crisis, as The Wall Street Journal detailed early Trump administration talks on options like extensive aerial bombardments of Iranian military sites.
However, according to The Daily Telegraph, U.S. military preparations for any potential operation against Iran require additional time, with officials noting that assets have not yet been repositioned for an imminent strike and that groundwork, including asset integration and defensive bolstering, must precede any action.
To complicate matters further, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has threatened reprisals against U.S. installations and Israel in case of intervention.