US Prepares to Target Iranian Leaders, Eyes Regime Change

The United States is preparing for the possibility of a serious military conflict with Iran should diplomatic efforts collapse, two U.S. officials said, outlining increasingly detailed operational scenarios under review by President Donald Trump, according to Reuters.

Targeting Individuals and Security Infrastructure

According to the officials, military planning has grown more granular and ambitious in recent days. Options under consideration include targeting specific Iranian leaders as part of a broader strike package, as well as hitting security facilities and nuclear infrastructure.

Such planning would echo Trump’s first-term decision in 2020 to authorize the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In 2019, the Trump administration formally designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization — the first time the U.S. had applied that label to another nation’s military.

One U.S. official pointed to Israel’s 12-day war with Iran last year, during which Israeli strikes reportedly killed at least 20 senior commanders, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri. The official said those operations demonstrated the “utility” of targeting command-and-control figures, though such actions require precise intelligence and carry risks of unintended casualties.

Regime Change as a Possible Goal

Beyond limited strikes, regime change in Tehran has emerged as a potential — though not formally declared — objective. Trump recently said replacing Iran’s government “seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” without naming any alternative leadership.

Pursuing regime change would mark a significant shift from Trump’s campaign rhetoric criticizing past U.S. efforts to topple governments in Afghanistan and Iraq. Traditionally, such operations required large ground forces, though Trump has previously relied on special operations tactics, including a recent raid targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

U.S. officials did not specify how Washington would attempt regime change in Iran without deploying major ground forces.

Regional Risks and Retaliation Threats

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned it would retaliate against U.S. military bases in the region if American forces strike Iranian territory. The United States maintains bases across the Middle East, including in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Tehran said it would not initiate war but would respond “decisively and proportionately” if attacked.

U.S. officials expect Iran to retaliate in the event of a strike, raising the prospect of American casualties and a broader regional conflict. Tehran has previously threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global oil flows, a move that could disrupt global energy markets. Oil prices have already risen amid escalating tensions.

Diplomacy Narrowing as Deadline Looms

Despite military preparations, Trump has continued to hold out the possibility of diplomacy, warning that “really bad things” would happen if no agreement is reached. He suggested a window of 10 to 15 days before potential U.S. action.

Iranian and U.S. negotiators met earlier this week, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi describing agreement on “guiding principles,” while the White House said significant gaps remain. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, while the United States and Israel have long accused it of seeking nuclear weapons capability.

As military assets — including warships, fighter aircraft and U.S.-based bombers — remain positioned in and around the Middle East, Washington appears to be preparing for multiple scenarios, from limited targeted strikes to a far more consequential confrontation with Tehran.