History will eventually unmask the covert forces that fueled the popular Iranian uprising against the evil empire of Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei. Yet from the moment the evidence surfaced – the testimonies, images, and footage of the killing fields the regime deployed against its own people – its fate was sealed.
The US president drew a line in the sand a week ago when he wrote, "If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue... The US is locked and loaded and ready to go."
And it has killed with unfathomable cruelty and scale. But this time, the regime was not dealing with just any president – but with President of the United States Donald J. Trump, whom the wicked leadership in Tehran personally tried to eliminate.
Yesterday, Trump tweeted that he is canceling all meetings with Iranian officials "until the senseless killing of protesters stops." He called on Iran's citizens to keep demonstrating, writing, "Iranian patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price ... HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
President Trump's announcement comes against the backdrop of a National Security Council meeting at the White House to discuss American options for action. The discussion was led by the national security advisor and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. According to various reports, Crown Prince of Iran Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed Shah (the former monarch of Iran), was also invited.
Within the Trump administration, there are divisions regarding the response to the protests. Vice President of the United States JD Vance and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff support opening negotiations – albeit with preconditions. Conversely, Secretary of State Rubio and Secretary of Defense Hegseth maintain that American intervention is required – even if limited to sanctions and a commercial siege.
Supreme Leader Khamenei did not target Trump by accident. The modern Adolf Hitler – who has ruled Iran since 1989 – realized that Trump understands the danger Iran poses to the US and the world better than any of his predecessors. Indeed – this president cannot be played.
Trump was not swayed by the lip service of Iranian diplomats, did not fall for their traps of fictitious negotiations, and did not hesitate to use force against their operators. The power he demonstrated by exiting the nuclear deal, imposing paralyzing sanctions, ordering the assassination of Commander of the IRGC Quds Force Qassem Soleimani, backing Israel during the 12 Days War (a recent military conflict), and finally dispatching his bombers to Fordo (the underground nuclear enrichment plant) – made it clear that Trump is a different breed of adversary.
This sequence of blows brought the regime to its knees and forced it into an existential choice: flexibility and survival, or obstinacy until collapse. Khamenei and his cronies – with the characteristic blindness of obtuse tyrants – chose the latter. They drove their people to poverty and hunger – and then massacred them when they rose up. These crimes against humanity crossed Trump's red line and will bring the American axe down upon them. It is not a question of if – but when.
The answer is likely very soon. While it is difficult to predict exactly what the US will do – it is clear they are going all in. The goal will not be a merely symbolic strike – but to topple the regime, once and for all. Trump understands he faces a historic opportunity, and he will not let it slip away.
Operationally – achieving this is far more complex than pulling President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro out of bed – or sending two stealth fighters to Fordo. Yet Trump cannot settle for anything less than wiping the mullahs' rule off the face of the earth.
To achieve this, the Iranian people must be the ones to carry out the regime change on the ground. Trump will not put American boots on Iranian soil. Thus, his call Tuesday for "Iranian patriots to take over the institutions" is not just a tailwind for demonstrations – but an operational directive.
When this happens – one must assume the Iranians will try to drag Israel into the abyss with them. Whatever their motives – the working assumption in Israel is that the Iranian counter-strike will target us as well.
The political and security echelons have been well aware of this for weeks – and have taken a series of preparatory measures. Israel will not be the first to attack – but certainly not the last to absorb the blow. If Iran strikes, it will get struck, and zero hour is closer than ever.
