Trump warned Iran strikes unlikely to topple regime

U.S. officials have advised President Donald Trump that a large-scale military strike on Iran would be unlikely to topple the Islamic Republic’s leadership and could instead trigger a wider regional conflict, according to The Wall Street Journal.

1news.media reports that advisers warned that such action would require significantly more U.S. military assets in the region to protect American forces and allies, including Israel, from possible Iranian retaliation, JP reported.

For now, Trump is said to be monitoring how Tehran responds to ongoing protests before deciding on the scale of any military action.

While officials believe limited strikes could boost protester morale, they caution that smaller actions would not fundamentally alter the regime’s crackdown or lead to leadership change.

Despite not making a final decision, Trump has asked the U.S. military to prepare for a potential large-scale strike. This could include repositioning the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln from the South China Sea to the Middle East, a move that would take about a week.

The White House reiterated warnings of “grave consequences” if Iran continues killing protesters, while emphasizing that only Trump knows what course of action he will take. Meanwhile, some U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Lindsey Graham, have voiced support for broader military action, arguing that Iran’s leadership may be nearing its end.