Illustrative image. (U.S. Central Command)
United States President Donald Trump is continuing to push his aides to devise what he calls “decisive” military options against Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported January 20.
Trump has repeatedly threatened the Islamic Republic over a wave of protests since the beginning of the month, going as far as vowing to punish the government if protesters are killed. The protests quickly turned deadly as a result of these threats.
Different sources and monitoring groups estimated the death toll between 4,000-16,000. However, Iranian state TV reported that only 3,117 were killed, that’s including both protesters and security personnel.
Last week, Trump held off from attacking Iran, with reports revealing that Arab countries, Turkey and even Israel asked him to de-escalate. However, he ordered the deployment of additional U.S. military assets into the Middle East, including an aircraft carrier, believed to be the USS Abraham Lincoln, and a squadron of F-15 fighter jets.
In addition, aviation tracking data revealed that 29 C-17 military transport aircraft and 12 refueling tankers of various types had flown into the region in recent days.
Citing US officials, The Wall Street Journal said that Trump has repeatedly employed the word “decisive” when discussing what outcome he would want from a U.S. attack on Iran, leading aides at the White House and Pentagon to draw up an array of options for him — among them actions that would be aimed at toppling the regime.
Other options that are more limited in aim reportedly include strikes on facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Officials quoted by the U.S. newspaper said that Trump still hasn’t ruled out strikes, though it’s unclear what he may ultimately decide.
Amid this escalation, Israel’s Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said that the military was prepared to act against any enemy posing a threat.
During a visit to the Nevatim Airbase, home to F-35 stealth fighter jets, on January 21, Zamir told Israeli Air Force pilots and air personnel that the military “will know how to strike powerfully in any arena against any enemy that threatens the security of the State of Israel,” according to remarks provided by the military.
“The air force constitutes the IDF’s strategic arm. You have been at the forefront of the offensive and defensive effort in both near and distant arenas over the past two years of fighting,” Zamir said.
“You accumulated operational experience unparalleled anywhere in the world, and we will know how to draw lessons from it and use it to ensure the security of the State of Israel at all times,” he added.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued the most direct threat yet against the US, warning the Islamic Republic would be “firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack.”
“Unlike the restraint Iran showed in June 2025, our powerful armed forces have no qualms about firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack,” Araghchi wrote on January 20, referring to the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June.
“This isn’t a threat, but a reality I feel I need to convey explicitly, because as a diplomat and a veteran, I abhor war,” the minister continued.
“An all-out confrontation will certainly be ferocious and drag on far, far longer than the fantasy timelines that Israel and its proxies are trying to peddle to the White House. It will certainly engulf the wider region and have an impact on ordinary people around the globe,” he added.
Despite recent de-escalation by Trump and the fact that protests in Iran have very much ended, a U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic remains more than likely. The high cost of the currnetly U.S. military buildup in the region is enough of an evdince.
Israel is clearly preparing to join such an attack. Nevertheless, it will not likely be the one starting the war like in June. This will put most of the risk on the U.S.
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trump does not make decisions in these matters. this is decided for him. he is a puppet. the propaganda surrounding this from hasbara repeat / echo media is a dystopian spectacle.
ramses narrative as usual .
and the usual dishonest votes .
the usual ,after what twenty years of running your “news outlet” one in one hundred million “views ” ..
and the one and only ramses of a dozen identities .
doing real well .
ok i$rael with blackmauled uncle $hmuel doing the entire “$h0w” for you -again going on 80 years!… and after you got your ass thoroughly kicked last year in the 12 day war fafo?… can’t wait to see the greatest and last “$h0w” you will mutually precipitate that will put the both of you to bed, domestically… militarily… diplomatically… and financially!…