Newsletters
Senior U.S. military officials have notified leadership of a key Middle Eastern ally that President Donald Trump could authorize attacks on Iran as early as this weekend, with strikes potentially beginning Sunday, according to Drop Site News, which cited multiple sources confirming the briefing.
The anticipated military action would target not only Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile facilities but also aim for regime change by attempting to "decapitate" the Iranian government and specifically the leadership of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to a former senior U.S. intelligence official who consults for Arab governments and advises the Trump administration informally on Middle East policy.
"This isn't about the nukes or the missile program. This is about regime change," the former official told Drop Site News.
Two senior Arab intelligence officials separately told Drop Site that they received information indicating a U.S. attack could come "imminently."
The briefing comes amid frantic regional diplomatic efforts to prevent military conflict. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Turkish leaders Friday to advance possible diplomatic solutions, with regional powers attempting to establish backchannel talks including a proposed trilateral meeting involving Iranian, American, and Turkish officials.
Saudi Arabia ruled out allowing its airspace to be used for any potential U.S. attack on Iran during a Tuesday phone call between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Saudi state news agency SPA. The United Arab Emirates similarly announced Monday it would not permit its airspace or territorial waters to be used in military action against Iran.
Trump confirmed Friday in the Oval Office that the U.S. has a "large armada, flotilla, call it whatever you want, heading towards Iran right now," though he declined to say whether Iran had received a deadline to reach an agreement avoiding war.
Iran has warned that any U.S. attack would trigger unprecedented retaliation across the region. Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, Iran's military spokesperson, said Thursday on Iranian television that war would not unfold as Trump imagines—"carrying out a quick operation and then, two hours later, tweeting that the operation is over."
"The scope of war will certainly extend across the entire region," Akraminia said. "From the Zionist regime to countries that host American military bases, all will be within range of our missiles and drones."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing this week that the U.S. has between 30,000 and 40,000 troops stationed at regional bases potentially within range of Iranian drones and short-range ballistic missiles.
Dr. Foad Izadi, a professor at the University of Tehran, told Drop Site that Iran's military leadership has abandoned its previous policy of telegraphing attacks in advance to minimize escalation—a strategy used after Israeli assassinations and during the 12-day U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran in June 2025. That policy failed to deter aggression, Izadi said, noting that officials who implemented it "were killed in June."
"The number that I hear is the goal is to get at least 500 American soldiers," Izadi said, referring to potential Iranian casualty targets if attacked. "The Iranian government, the Iranian military has decided to respond quite harshly this time because you cannot have a country when that country is threatened to be attacked militarily every other week."
Speaking at a Friday press conference in Istanbul with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Araghchi said Iran remains ready to resume talks with the United States on its nuclear program but not under military threat. He stated no direct talks with U.S. officials had been scheduled while confirming Iran has prepared for war if attacked.
"I should also state unequivocally that Iran's defensive and missile capabilities—and Iran's missiles—will never be the subject of any negotiations," Araghchi said, responding to U.S. demands that Türkiye limit its ballistic missile program's scale and range.
Araghchi added that Iran is prepared for both "fair and equitable negotiations" and a possible war that could expand beyond Iranian borders throughout the region.
The Trump administration's strategy reportedly envisions that successful strikes on Iranian leadership would prompt Iranian citizens to protest in the streets, leading to government overthrow. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is hoping for an attack" and has assured Trump "that Israel can help put in place a new government that is friendly with the West," according to the former senior intelligence official who spoke to Drop Site News.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, created after Iran's 1979 revolution, has evolved into a powerful branch of the Iranian armed forces whose leadership now plays a major role in the country's politics and economy.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
