Trump’s agenda now: Destroy Iranian regime's ability to govern – opinion
With the American president’s plan to target the Islamic Republic’s infrastructure rather than the IRGC or nuclear sites, his principal objective has become dismantling its leadership
At a cabinet meeting in Camp David, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States is prepared to escalate military pressure on Iran. He stated, "We're going to hit them very hard. Eventually, they'll reach a point where they say, 'We can't go on anymore.'" The president added, "We just want to win."
US media outlets report that Trump may be reviewing or has already ordered a new phase of military operations against the Iranian regime, potentially beginning this weekend. The primary focus would be on Iran's energy infrastructure, including power plants, oil refineries, and the national electricity grid.
Security experts emphasize that the final decision on executing these strikes may only be made hours before launch. This development signals a shift in Washington's strategic messaging, moving beyond targeting IRGC military installations or Iran's nuclear infrastructure. The regime's governing capacity is now the principal objective.
The emphasis on Iran's critical energy infrastructure aims to push the regime into a corner, potentially igniting nationwide public unrest. Many Iranians would welcome the regime's humiliation, defeat, and surrender, seeing it as a necessary transition despite temporary hardships.
Iran's propaganda machine warns of broad retaliation if attacks on critical infrastructure occur. This could include activating dormant terrorist cells or asymmetric capabilities within the United States and the West.
From a national security standpoint, the coming phase of military operations appears to have four strategic objectives. First, crippling the regime's governing capacity by targeting power plants, oil refineries, electricity transmission networks, and energy hubs. Second, degrading Iran's military sustainment capability through electricity and fuel access to defense industries, missile systems, maintenance facilities, and logistical supply chains.
Third, increasing strategic pressure on Tehran by raising the cost of continued confrontation. And fourth, enhancing regional deterrence by sending a clear message to other regional actors about the consequences of attacking the United States and its allies.
The regime's center of gravity now lies in its national electricity grid, oil refineries, fuel distribution networks, command-and-control centers, communication systems, and the institutional mechanisms that maintain governmental continuity. Disrupting these critical systems will have far-reaching consequences beyond physical destruction, weakening the IRGC's command, weakening provincial control, and intensifying administrative pressure on an already struggling government.
The gradual redeployment of American forces from Iraq's Kurdistan region has military implications, reducing the vulnerability of US forces to retaliatory attacks and repositioning military assets ahead of new operations. Strategically, this shift serves US national interests and contributes to greater stability in the Middle East.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
