Washington: Former US President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing for a major but targeted military operation against Iran, focusing on secret strikes on nuclear facilities, missile production sites, and high‑risk special forces missions aimed at destabilising Tehran’s ruling system—without launching a full‑scale war.
According to reports, the Trump administration is considering a strategy that avoids a conventional invasion while seeking to cripple Iran’s nuclear ambitions and potentially trigger a leadership change. The plan involves rapid airstrikes on key nuclear and ballistic missile installations, combined with covert ground operations by elite US special forces deployed briefly on Iranian soil before withdrawing.
US Planning Targeted Military Operations
The New York Times has reported that US military planners are evaluating options to secretly insert special forces into Iran to destroy or permanently disable nuclear facilities that survived the June 2025 strikes. The objective is to create large‑scale internal disruption that could weaken Iran’s clerical establishment and pave the way for regime instability or political change.
These operations are described as high‑risk but limited in scope, designed to avoid a prolonged war while delivering a decisive blow to Iran’s strategic capabilities.
Trump Signals Both Threat and Diplomacy
Despite the aggressive military planning, Trump has publicly stated that he prefers to avoid military confrontation. He has claimed that negotiations with Iran are ongoing, even as the US deploys a massive naval presence in the region.
Asked whether he was open to talks with Tehran, Trump told reporters, “I have spoken, and I am planning to speak. We have a group going to a place called Iran, and hopefully we won’t have to use them.” Earlier, Trump had warned that time was “running out” for Iran.
Iran Warns of Immediate and Decisive Retaliation
Iran has responded sharply to Trump’s threats, warning that any US attack—limited or otherwise—would be treated as a declaration of full‑scale war. Tehran has threatened strikes on US military bases across the Middle East, stating that its forces are on high alert.
An Iranian military spokesperson said the country’s response would not be restrained, unlike last year’s clashes following US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. “This time, the response will be decisive and immediate,” the spokesperson warned, adding that Iran’s forces are fully prepared and “fingers are on the trigger.”
As tensions escalate, the possibility of a dangerous confrontation looms large, raising fears of regional instability and a wider Middle East conflict with global consequences.
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