What the US can strike in Iran and with what weapons
US President Donald Trump said that, according to his information, the mass killings in Iran have stopped and plans to execute participants in anti-government protests have allegedly been cancelled. At the same time, he made it clear that the United States is ready to resort to force if the Iranian authorities resume brutal repression against demonstrators.
According to CNN, if a decision to strike is made, the main targets of the US could be the Iranian regime's security forces — the command centres of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Basij units and the police, which play a key role in suppressing the protests. At the same time, experts warn that a significant portion of such facilities are located in densely populated areas, creating a high risk of civilian casualties.
Former US Navy Captain Karl Schuster stresses that any strikes must be as accurate as possible, as even accidental civilian casualties could undermine the trust of Iranian protesters in the US. In his opinion, in such a case, Washington risks looking not like an ally of Iranian society, but like an external force imposing its will.
Analysts cite strikes against the financial interests of the Iranian elite and the IRGC as a separate scenario. According to experts, between one-third and two-thirds of Iran's economy is controlled by the IRGC, which makes these structures vulnerable to targeted economic strikes. The goal of such actions is to force the IRGC leadership and commanders to think about their own survival rather than preserving the regime.
In terms of weapons, experts believe that the US could use Tomahawk cruise missiles, which are launched from submarines and Navy ships at a great distance from the Iranian coast. It is also possible to use JASSM air-to-surface missiles, which can be launched from fighter jets and strategic bombers, including the B-1, B-2 and B-52. The use of strike drones cannot be ruled out either.
Analysts note that due to the absence of an American aircraft carrier near Iran, strikes, if they occur, will most likely be carried out from airbases in the Persian Gulf countries or from more distant locations with refuelling in the air. The active movement of refuelling aircraft and strike aircraft could be the first sign of preparations for an operation.
According to CNN estimates, in the event of a forceful scenario, the Trump administration will opt for a short, demonstrative operation with a powerful media effect — in particular, strikes on Iran's oil infrastructure, which could cause serious economic losses and at the same time provide sensational footage for the world media.
Photo: BBC.
United States, Iran, Donald Trump, CNN, Quds Force, military strike, Tomahawk, JASSM, Middle East
