Trump Mulls New Iran Assault Amid Expert Warnings of Escalation

In a recent interview, Donald Trump said the United States faces a choice between striking a deal with Iran or delivering a decisive blow, reigniting discussion of a new offensive months after combat operations wound down. Experts, including former administration official Jason Campbell and Iran specialist Behnam Ben Taleblu, warned that another attack could invite Iranian retaliation against U.S. troops and potentially trigger more terrorist incidents.

They highlighted the difficulty of a ground operation, noting that Iran has rendered most potential U.S. staging sites unsafe and that an invasion would likely need about 100,000 soldiers. Some analysts suggested that tightening the Strait of Hormuz might pressure Tehran while avoiding a costly land campaign. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reported to favor regime change in Iran, and the Pentagon is reportedly moving an additional aircraft carrier to the region. Overall, officials stress that a renewed strike carries high risks without a clear path to crippling Iran’s defenses.