No one is better than President Donald Trump at putting maximum pressure on Iran. As protests against the repressive, murderous regime continue, Trump is talking up military options as another means to compound the dilemmas for the Iranian government. “Locked and loaded,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on January 2, as protests by the Iranian people increased.
The US military always has a list of target options when it comes to Iran. Operation Midnight Hammer only took out a specific set of nuclear enrichment and weapons design facilities to erase Iran’s ability to race for a bomb. But the B-2 strike of June 22, 2025 did not go after Iran’s underground sites where missiles, launchers and fuel production were hidden.
One act by Iran would certainly trigger strikes: Trump said on Sunday that he would “hit them at a level that has never been hit before” if US forces were targeted. This is an important red line. Recall that Iran struck US forces at Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar on June 23, 2025, and previously struck US forces at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on January 8, 2020.
Here are three possible options for President Trump to consider.
IRAN’S NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES CRUSHED, BUT THE REGIME’S DESIRE FOR THE BOMB MAY CONTINUE
Several B-2 Spirit Stealth bombers are seen on a runway at Whiteman Air Force Base. (Whiteman Air Force Base)
1. Rocket production
Iran is still building ballistic missiles and importing solid rocket fuel precursors such as sodium perchlorate from China. The CIA’s map shows more than 20 above-ground and underground sites throughout Iran related to missile testing, development, production and storage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in late December that Iran is trying to rebuild its missile stockpiles and air defenses. He likely shared more details during his Dec. 30 visit to Mar-a-Lago with Trump. Iran has deployed hundreds of missiles in attacks on Israel in 2024-2025 and wants to regain the ability to attack Israel with large salvos. That would be bad.
2. Space launch facilities
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Iran has more than 30 satellites in orbit and Russia launched three more in December. That’s the last thing we need; rogue Iranian satellites. Worse still, Iran’s space launch rockets are easily repurposed as offensive missiles. Iran fired an undeclared ballistic missile from its Iman Khomenei spaceport in September. This is, by the way, contrary to UN sanctions. I wouldn’t be surprised if their new launch facility under construction in Chabahar is also on the watchlist.
3. Drone factories
Iran’s infamous drones that hit Ukraine were made by Shahed Aviation Industries, operated in part by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Don’t forget that the IRGC is also a big business. The IRGC finances terrorism, so their drone activities are a legitimate military target. It’s a shame that the drone factory that Iran set up in Russia is not on this list.
Any options communicated to the President will be accompanied by a comprehensive review of ways to prevent collateral damage or unintended civilian deaths. After all, the goal is to put pressure on the regime.
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This is all easy work for Central Command. U.S. F-15E fighters led strikes against ISIS targets in Syria on Saturday, and additional Air Force F-35s, F-16s and B-2 and B-1 bombers could augment the packages alongside U.S. Navy destroyers and submarines with Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAMs).
What about the world’s reaction? France, Germany and Britain are already condemning Iran’s questionable space launch activities. Missiles from Iran can reach southern Europe. Hence the 2023 activation of the Aegis Ashore radar system in Poland and Romania, designed to track missiles launched from Iran.
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As a follow-up to the White House Briefing, the President will be briefed on the defensive posture of US forces in the Middle East. Tipped off by the US Space Force, US Navy destroyers used the Standard Missile SM-3 to kill several Iranian missiles in 2024 and will be ready to do so again.
Most Americans would undoubtedly like to see an end to Ayatollah Khamenei’s tyranny. Until that day arrives, Trump’s sensible policy may be to ensure that Iran’s military capabilities are shattered into a million pieces.
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