US military planning for Iran has entered an advanced stage, with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even seeking regime change in Tehran if ordered by President Donald Trump, two US officials told Reuters.
These military options are the latest indications that the United States is preparing for a serious conflict with Iran if diplomatic efforts fail. Reuters first reported last week that the US military was preparing for a prolonged, weeks-long operation against Iran, which could include strikes on Iranian security facilities as well as nuclear infrastructure.
The latest revelations point to more detailed, ambitious planning ahead of Trump's decision, who in recent days has publicly floated the idea of regime change in the Islamic Republic.
The US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the planning, did not provide further details about which individuals might be targeted, or how the US military might try to effect regime change without large ground forces.
An attempt at regime change would represent another departure from Trump's presidential campaign promises to abandon what he called the failed policies of previous administrations, which included military efforts to overthrow governments in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Trump has amassed a huge amount of firepower in the Middle East, but most of the combat capability is in warships and fighter jets. Any major bombing campaign could also count on the support of bombers based in the US, the British agency points out.
In his first term, Trump demonstrated a willingness to carry out targeted killings, having authorized the 2020 strike on top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who led the foreign intelligence and paramilitary wing of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, known as the Quds Force.
In 2019, Donald Trump's administration formally designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization, marking the first time Washington had applied such a designation to another country's military.
A US official pointed to Israel's success in targeting Iranian leaders during its 12-day war with Iran last year. At the time, regional sources told Reuters that at least 20 senior commanders were killed, including the chief of staff of the armed forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri.
“The 12-day war and the Israeli strikes on individual targets really demonstrated the usefulness of that approach,” the US official said, adding that the focus was on those involved in command and control of IRGC forces.
However, the official cautioned that targeting individuals requires additional intelligence resources. Killing a specific military commander would require knowing his exact location and understanding who else might be harmed in the operation.
It was not clear to officials who spoke to Reuters what intelligence the US had about Iranian leaders who could potentially be targets.
Regime change as a possible goal
Trump has openly raised the possibility of regime change in Iran, saying last week that "it seems like the best thing that could happen." He declined to say who he would like to see leading Iran, but said "there are people."
While regime change operations have traditionally involved heavy involvement of US ground forces, Trump has turned to special operations forces to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, sending them on a daring raid last month to capture him at his compound in Caracas.
At the same time, the US president left the door open for diplomacy, saying on Thursday that “really bad things” would happen if a deal was not reached. He appeared to set a deadline of at most 10 to 15 days before the US could take action.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that it could retaliate with attacks on US military bases in the region if the US attacks Iranian territory.
The United States has bases throughout the Middle East, including in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.
In a letter sent to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday, Tehran said it would not start a war, but that "in the event of military aggression, Iran will respond decisively and proportionately" in exercising its right to self-defense.
US officials told Reuters they expect Iran to retaliate in the event of an attack, which increases the risk of American casualties and regional conflict, given the number of countries that could be affected by Iran's missile arsenal.
Trump's threats to bomb Iran have sent oil prices soaring, and on Thursday a Russian warship joined planned Iranian naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman, a key shipping route for global energy supplies.
Threats to close the Strait of Hormuz
Tehran has threatened in the past to close the Strait of Hormuz if attacked, a move that would cut off a fifth of the world's oil flows.
Iranian and American negotiators met on Tuesday, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said they had agreed on “guiding principles.” However, White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt said on Wednesday that the two sides remained far apart on some issues.
Iran has resisted making major concessions on its nuclear program, insisting it is for peaceful uses. The United States and Israel have in the past accused Tehran of trying to develop a nuclear bomb.
A senior US official said Iran would present a written proposal on how to address US concerns.
Trump on Wednesday called on Tehran to embark on a "path of peace" with the United States.
"They can't have nuclear weapons, it's very simple," he said. "There can't be peace in the Middle East if they have nuclear weapons."
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
