- January 30, 2026
- 1:13 pm
- World News
US President Donald Trump received an expanded package of military scenarios in case of escalation of confrontation with Iran. These are measures that go beyond previously discussed options and are aimed at weakening the country’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. This is reported by The New York Times citing current and former American officials.
The proposed options appeared against the backdrop of changes in the regional and internal context within Iran itself. The harsh suppression of protests and increased pressure on the opposition, according to American analysts, influenced the logic of discussions in the White House and the Pentagon.
Military Scenarios and Diplomacy
According to sources, the proposals include targeted raids on Iranian facilities, as well as actions that were previously considered too risky. Trump continues to insist that Iran cease the development of nuclear weapons and abandon support for allied armed groups in the region.
The administration is discussing whether threats of forceful pressure can become a tool to compel Tehran to negotiate. At the moment, the president has not authorized the start of military actions. His entourage emphasizes that the diplomatic track formally remains open, and tough statements can be seen as an element of negotiation tactics.
Risks and Deterrent Factors
The White House is exploring the possibility of strikes not only on facilities related to the nuclear program but also on other symbolically significant targets. However, Trump previously refused forceful scenarios after consultations with Israel and several US Arab partners concerned about the consequences of large-scale escalation.
Within the administration, Iran is increasingly compared to other crisis cases, including Venezuela. However, assessments agree on one thing: Iran is a fundamentally more complex and resilient adversary, possessing military, political, and regional resources that make any operations significantly more risky.
Possible Options and Consequences
Among the discussed measures are covert operations by special units and strikes on military targets. Some scenarios theoretically create conditions for the elimination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. However, the key question remains unanswered: who and on what grounds will govern the country in the event of a sharp change of power.
Israel, according to sources, continues to insist on the need for repeated strikes on Iran’s missile program. Contacts between American structures and representatives of Israeli intelligence continue, but a unified understanding of the ultimate goal and acceptable scope of actions has not yet been developed.
Legal Grounds and International Background
The legal aspects of possible strikes remain a separate block. The administration is discussing whether it is possible to rely on Iran’s status as a state sponsor of terrorism, by analogy with the justifications used in the elimination of General Qasem Soleimani.
Although Ali Khamenei is not officially recognized as a terrorist, the White House may request additional legal expertise. Against this backdrop, the US is already strengthening its military presence in the region, demonstrating readiness for rapid response.
The Iranian regime managed to suppress the wave of protests, but the question remains open: can the system feel secure under conditions of increasing external pressure and internal instability. It is in this context that Washington’s decisions acquire special significance for Israel, the Middle East, and global security, which is closely monitored by NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency, analyzing possible scenarios and their consequences for the region.
