From nuclear sites to top commanders — U.S. plans for Iran now reportedly include targeting individuals. The stakes just escalated.
U.S. military planning for potential strikes on Iran has entered an advanced phase, with options reportedly including targeting senior Iranian officials and even pursuing regime change, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters.
The planning reflects growing tension between Washington and Tehran as diplomatic efforts over Iran’s nuclear program struggle to gain traction. Officials said the military is preparing for the possibility of a sustained operation that could last weeks, targeting not only nuclear infrastructure but also key security facilities and individuals within Iran’s command structure.
While no final decision has been announced, President Donald Trump has publicly floated the idea of changing Iran’s government, calling it potentially “the best thing that could happen.” At the same time, he has continued to signal that diplomacy remains an option, warning that “really bad things” would follow if a deal is not reached within what he suggested could be a short timeline.
The White House and Pentagon have not officially confirmed the scope of military planning.
Targeting individual leaders would mark a significant escalation. During his first term, Trump authorized the 2020 strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
U.S. officials noted that recent Israeli operations against Iranian commanders demonstrated the tactical impact of precision strikes, though such missions require extensive intelligence and carry risks of broader civilian casualties.
Iran has warned it would retaliate decisively against U.S. forces in the region if attacked. American bases stretch across Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, placing thousands of personnel within range of Iran’s missile arsenal.
Tehran has also previously threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint through which roughly 20 percent of global oil flows — a move that could trigger severe economic disruption worldwide.
Although U.S. negotiators met Iranian officials this week and discussed “guiding principles,” both sides acknowledged significant gaps remain. Trump reiterated that Iran “can’t have a nuclear weapon,” framing it as central to regional peace.
With warships and aircraft now positioned across the Middle East, the question is no longer whether Washington has military options — but whether the White House will choose to use them.
