Trump is considering striking Iran again... and Netanyahu is pressing to topple the regime

Washington - Ofoq News - US President Donald Trump is currently considering a radical step that may change the face of the Middle East.

According to The Atlantic, the president is receiving advice from two of his aides who promise him a quick solution to end the war with Iran, but each of them offers a radically different approach.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bassnett claims that the Islamic Republic is on the verge of economic collapse, and that the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with tough sanctions, will force Tehran to surrender and return to the negotiating table.

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a series of recent talks with Trump, proposed a completely different path, including another round of devastating American and Israeli strikes aimed at toppling the regime.

The Trump administration now appears to be considering a combination of the two approaches, based on the assumption that Iran is on the verge of economic collapse and that a few more major strikes will be enough to bring about regime change.

Officials said that the US President is considering resuming the military campaign by launching several days of strikes, most likely immediately after the midterm elections for the US Congress.

Potential targets include Iran's arsenal of missiles and drones, as well as its energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities.

However, experience suggests that this may be wishful thinking. While economic pressures have severely weakened Iran, its negotiating position has remained virtually unwavering.

Trump previously believed that Iran was on the verge of collapse, only to later discover that he had made a mistake in his assessments. Moreover, launching a new round of strikes could spark a broader regional escalation.

Indeed, Revolutionary Guard spokesman General Hossein Mahabi recently threatened that seven undersea fiber optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz are potential “new targets.”

Danny Citrinovic, a former senior intelligence official specializing in Iranian affairs, was quoted in the report as saying that it is impossible to plan a three-day war with Iran, because its response cannot be controlled.

President Trump is inclined to act because he is impatient to wait for the economic strangulation strategy to succeed, especially with rising energy prices making things politically difficult for Republicans.

Informed sources reported that Trump was hoping that Iran would return to the negotiating table before the midterm elections.

At the same time, a White House source confirmed to the report's authors that Netanyahu pushed for another round of strikes before Israeli elections scheduled for next week. However, Trump has so far refrained from agreeing to an early strike due to internal political pressure.

As for preparations on the ground, Defense Minister Pete Hegest recently visited Israel and discussed the Iranian issue with Netanyahu. Meanwhile, the US State Department began evacuating its non-essential personnel from Saudi Arabia due to the Houthi escalation in Yemen.

The main unanswered question remains whether the Pentagon's stockpile of munitions is sufficient to protect American interests. Capital and energy markets are already witnessing tense reactions to escalation scenarios, and oil prices have risen sharply as a result of fears of renewed war.

The US naval blockade has severely damaged the Iranian economy, preventing the export of at least $25 billion worth of crude oil, according to the commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, leading to high inflation and shortages of goods.

Meanwhile, President Trump said tonight, "We will end our relationship with Iran very soon. I don't care if it's the way we choose or not." He added: "Now I have no one to negotiate with. My biggest problem: No one wants to be president of Iran."