Trump Briefed on "Decisive" Options for Iran Regime Change

President Donald Trump has been briefed on a range of aggressive military options to neutralize the Iranian threat, including a high-stakes campaign to "decapitate" the regime by targeting scores of top political and military leaders. The briefings, detailed by U.S. and foreign officials, present the President with two primary paths: a total effort to overthrow the Islamic Republic or a "surgical" air campaign focused exclusively on obliterating its nuclear and ballistic-missile infrastructure.

The "Decisive" Directive

Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly pushed his national security team, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, for what he calls "decisive" options that avoid a protracted regional war while forcing Tehran into total submission.

The briefings come as a massive U.S. military buildup reaches a crescendo in the Middle East. Trump has described the force as a "beautiful armada," featuring the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carriers, B-2 stealth bombers, and advanced THAAD and Patriot anti-missile systems.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned on Wednesday that while diplomacy remains the preferred path, Iran would be "wise" to make a deal now as military readiness reaches its peak. A senior administration official reportedly told Axios there is now a 90% chance of "kinetic action" if current nuclear talks in Geneva continue to stall.

The push for military action is fueled by a brutal internal crackdown in Iran, where security forces have allegedly killed tens of thousands of anti-regime protesters since January. While some aides caution that U.S. strikes could inadvertently rally Iranians around the flag, others argue that the regime is at its weakest point in decades and a "sufficiently strong strike" could be the final blow.