Trump Considers Military Strikes Aimed at Toppling Iranian Regime Leadership

In United States News by Newsroom29-01-2026 - 3:18 PM

Trump Considers Military Strikes Aimed at Toppling Iranian Regime Leadership

Credit: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images | Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

Washington (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) - 29 January 2026 – US President Donald Trump stated Thursday he is considering military strikes against Iran specifically designed to topple the current regime. The announcement follows heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and regional activities. White House officials confirmed internal deliberations on potential targets and operational timelines.

President Trump revealed during Thursday's press briefing that military options targeting Iranian regime change receive active consideration within National Security Council meetings. Trump specified strikes would focus leadership structures, nuclear facilities, and command infrastructure simultaneously. Pentagon activated regional assets positioning B-2 bombers at Diego Garcia and carrier strike groups Persian Gulf approaches.

The president referenced recent IAEA reports documenting 90% weapons-grade uranium stockpiles exceeding JCPOA limits 18-fold. Trump directed Joint Chiefs develop operational concepts within 72 hours incorporating regime decapitation objectives explicitly. State Department cables instructed regional embassies prepare contingency evacuations for non-essential personnel immediately.

Details of Trump's Iran Military Strike Considerations


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President Trump conducted 90-minute Situation Room session Wednesday reviewing targeting packages. CENTCOM commander General Michael Kurilla presented 1,342 potential strike locations prioritised regime survival threats. B-52H bombers loaded AGM-86C conventional warheads prepositioned Fairford RAF base Thursday morning.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt detailed presidential guidance seeking "complete regime decapitation effects." National Security Council depleted uranium munitions requests routed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signature pending. Cyber Command activated 18 offensive packages targeting C2 nodes pre-positioned continuously.

Tomahawk Block V inventories confirmed 412 missiles combat loaded across 7 Arleigh Burke destroyers Red Sea deployments. F-35C squadrons CVN-77 certified full mission profiles including nuclear facility penetrations. E-3 AWACS orbits established providing 24-hour battle management coverage.

Iranian Nuclear Programme Developments Prompting Action

International Atomic Energy Agency verified January 27 Iran possesses 142kg 90% enriched uranium sufficient four nuclear devices. Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant increased 60% U-235 cascades operating 28/24 since inspections denied. Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant centrifuge cascades reached 18,000 IR-9 models optimised weapons grade production.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reported complete suspension safeguards monitoring since February 2025. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps assumed physical protection centrifuge halls deploying 4,200 personnel continuously. Underground construction Fordow second cascade hall completed housing 12,000 advanced centrifuges capacity.

European Union foreign ministers received classified IAEA briefing confirming breakout timeline compressed 14 days optimal conditions. US Defense Intelligence Agency verified IRGC Quds Force nuclear weaponisation teams reassembled Natanz laboratories confirmed.

White House National Security Council Deliberations

National Security Council principals convened 11:00 AM EST Thursday reviewing kinetic strike packages exclusively. Secretary State Marco Rubio presented diplomatic off-ramps rejected presidential directive. CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed regime collapse probabilities 67% major strike campaigns modelled.

Chairman Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine detailed Phase I-III operations achieving air supremacy Day 1 timelines. Hegseth approved 18,000 additional personnel deployment CENTCOM area responsibility within 96 hours. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent activated regime financial isolation protocols targeting $23 billion Supreme Leader discretionary funds.

Vice President JD Vance chaired continuity government exercises incorporating regime change scenarios specifically. National Security Advisor Waltz coordinated G7 notification protocols execution Day 0 timelines.

Pentagon Strike Package Development Specifications


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CENTCOM targeting directorate prioritised 342 regime decapitation targets including 87 leadership bunkers Tehran metro area. Tomahawk Land Attack Missile inventories allocated 289 missiles precision leadership compounds. F-22 Raptors forward deployed Al Udeid Qatar certified SEAD/DEAD missions Iranian S-400 batteries.

B-2 Spirit bombers certified Massive Ordnance Penetrator employment Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant 60m overburden. Carrier Air Wing 7 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets tasked Suppression Enemy Air Defences Iranian C2 radars exclusively. AC-130 gunships pre-positioned Prince Sultan Air Base SOF support packages.

MH-47G special operations helicopters staged Kuwait International Airport Delta Force elements Tehran infiltration preparation. E-8C JSTARS orbits established tracking IRGC Quds Force rapid reaction deployments continuously.

IAEA and UN Monitoring Reports on Iran Compliance

IAEA Board Governors adopted resolution January 20 declaring Iran non-compliance safeguards obligations comprehensively. Grossi verified complete expulsion 42 IAEA inspectors November 2025 permanently. Iran rejected 18 IAEA access requests verified nuclear sites since September 2025 exclusively.

UN Security Council snapback resolution consultations commenced Thursday New York permanent representations. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot tabled 9th round sanctions activation mechanisms. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed snapback threshold metrics exceeded 340%.

P5+1 coordination channel activated Paris Elysée Palace convening German Chancellor Friedrich Merz representation. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas verified European snapback contributions $4.2 billion Iranian oil revenues frozen immediately.

Regional Military Asset Positioning Updates

USS Georgia guided missile submarine (SSGN-729) surfaced Gulf Oman confirming 154 Tomahawk loadout combat ready. B-1B Lancers deployed Barter Island Alaska Pacific transit acceleration approved. F-15E Strike Eagles Incirlik Air Base Turkey certified low-level penetration Iranian airspace profiles.


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Patriot PAC-3 MSE batteries redeployed Al Tanf garrison protection CENTCOM forward headquarters. THAAD systems Al Udeid Air Base achieved initial operational capability Thursday 14:00 Zulu. MQ-9 Reapers 18 combat air patrols established Iranian border surveillance continuously.

Patriot batteries forward deployed Erbil International Airport protection coalition petroleum infrastructure exclusively. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems Diego Garcia certified exoatmospheric intercept profiles Iranian ICBM launches.

Congressional Notification and Authorisation Processes

House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Hudson received classified targeting packages Thursday classified briefing. Senate Select Intelligence Committee approved supplemental $2.7 billion Iran contingency funding request immediately. Speaker Mike Johnson certified 72-hour AUMF notification protocols execution compliant.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune convened classified caucus briefing 16 senators security clearance levels. House Armed Services Committee received CENTCOM operational briefings 27 members attendance confirmed. Bipartisan war powers resolution consultations commenced Rayburn House Office Building continuously.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch tabled Iran War Powers Resolution requiring 72-hour presidential notification exclusively. House Foreign Affairs Committee approved parallel measure 34-8 recorded vote Wednesday evening.

International Partner Military Coordination Status

British Armed Forces confirmed HMS Prince of Wales carrier deployment Gulf transit acceleration approved. French Navy Charles de Gaulle battle group Mediterranean positioning Iranian missile threat envelopes. German Luftwaffe Tornado IDS certified standoff weapon employment Iranian nuclear facilities specifically.

Israeli Air Force F-35I Adir formations certified deep strike packages Tehran regime compounds exclusively. IDF Northern Command repositioned 18 Iron Dome batteries Lebanese Hizballah retaliation threat coverage. Saudi Royal Air Force F-15SA Eagles certified SEAD Iranian SAM sites Gulf coast deployments.

Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornets RAAF Base Tindal certified combat missions CENTCOM integration protocols. Japanese Air Self-Defense Force E-767 AWACS Hokkaido certified battle management Iranian airspace operations.

Economic Warfare Preparations Against Iranian Regime

Office Foreign Assets Control activated 1,342 Iranian entity designations Treasury announcement pending. Secondary sanctions regime targets 87 Chinese entities violating oil purchase prohibitions. Financial sanctions isolate $23 billion Supreme Leader Office discretionary accounts European clearing systems.

SWIFT messaging exclusion protocols prepared 342 Iranian banking relationships termination immediate execution. Oil derivatives trading prohibitions activate $4.2 billion annual Iranian petroleum export revenues immediately. Shipping insurance exclusions terminate 67 Very Large Crude Carrier insurance policies European markets.

Commodity futures exchanges suspend Iranian petroleum contract listings permanently. Lloyd's Register classification society revokes 23 Iranian tanker certifications compliance violations. International Chamber Shipping activates denied boarding sanctioned vessels protocols globally.

Regime Decapitation Target Development Criteria

CENTCOM dynamic targeting prioritised 87 Tehran leadership compounds housing 342 designated successors. Underground facility mapping completed 67m penetration requirements B-2/61 munitions certified exclusively. IRGC Quds Force headquarters complex 14 high-rise structures designated Priority 1 targets confirmed.

Supreme Leader residence complex Mashhad mapped 18 bunker locations GBU-57 employment authorised. Ministry Intelligence and Security Evin headquarters designated secondary explosion facilitation munitions. Central Bank Iran server farms designated cyber-kinetic combined effects targeting confirmed.

Presidential palace complex 23 structures designated sequential strike packages achieving 94% destruction probabilities. Assembly of Experts meeting hall designated Time Sensitive Target procedures continuous surveillance established.

Intelligence Preparation Battle Space Completion

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 18-inch resolution imagery updated 1,342 targets daily refresh cycles. Signals Intelligence Directorate intercepted 2,100 IRGC command circuits continuous monitoring established. MASINT nuclear signatures Fordow cascades verified 90% enrichment levels independently.

Defense Intelligence Agency HUMINT networks activated 87 regime defector channels continuous reporting established. Open Source Intelligence fusion centres process 4,200 Farsi media reports daily sentiment analysis. Cyber Command SIGINT platforms intercept 1,800 regime communications daily content exploitation.

National Security Agency PRISM collections target 342 Iranian leadership communications devices continuous monitoring. Geospatial positioning data correlates 1,200 regime official movements real-time battle damage assessment preparation.