
A retired four-star Army general is calling for immediate military action against Iran, arguing that President Trump has a rare window to deliver a decisive blow while the rogue regime teeters on the brink of collapse.
Story Snapshot
- General Jack Keane identifies military strikes as the “best option” to exploit Iran’s historic political, economic, and military weakness
- Trump balances diplomatic efforts in Oman with a powerful carrier strike group deployment, signaling military readiness
- Iran’s nuclear program exposed as deceptive while the regime faces internal instability and infrastructure collapse
- Experts debate whether strikes could trigger regime change or dangerous escalation with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
General Keane Advocates Striking Iran at Peak Vulnerability
Retired four-star General Jack Keane made a compelling case for military action against Iran during a February 8 appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend. Keane argued that Iran currently sits at its weakest point in decades, facing simultaneous political instability, economic collapse, and military degradation.
He emphasized that decisive U.S. military strikes could trigger regime collapse and create lasting Middle East peace, defining Trump’s presidential legacy. Keane warned that pursuing diplomatic deals would only extend the regime’s survival through sanction relief, allowing Tehran to rebuild its threatening capabilities.
Trump’s Dual Approach: Diplomacy Backed by Overwhelming Force
President Trump continues balancing diplomatic engagement with unmistakable displays of military power. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and advisor Jared Kushner led nuclear negotiations in Oman on Friday, which Trump characterized as “very good,” stating Iran desperately wants a deal but must abandon nuclear ambitions.
The following Saturday, Witkoff, Kushner, and CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper visited the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Arabian Sea. This high-profile show of force underscores America’s readiness to act militarily if diplomacy fails, maintaining the unpredictability that keeps adversaries off-balance.
Retired Army general predicts ‘formidable’ US military action against Iran if Trump pulls triggerhttps://t.co/d4CHBaNiag
— The Hill (@thehill) February 15, 2026
Iran’s nuclear program represents what Keane calls a “big lie” perpetuated by the regime for decades. The general pointed out that Iran’s sole nuclear power plant supplies less than one percent of the country’s electrical grid, exposing claims about peaceful energy needs as transparent deception.
Following Trump’s June 2025 strikes that degraded Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the regime has attempted to rebuild both conventional forces and potentially nuclear capabilities. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime continues violent repression of internal opposition while managing cascading infrastructure failures and economic devastation that undermine public support.
Expert Debate: Regime Collapse Versus Dangerous Escalation
Security experts remain divided on the wisdom and potential outcomes of military strikes against Iran. Alongside Keane, analyst Brodsky advocates for surgical strikes targeting leadership and degrading Revolutionary Guard capabilities, believing this could empower Iranian protesters and accelerate inevitable regime change.
However, other analysts warn of catastrophic risks, including full-scale escalation, potential Revolutionary Guard seizure of power, creating an even more dangerous military dictatorship, or descent into civil war. The absence of organized opposition movements within Iran complicates predictions about what follows regime collapse.
Strategic Window Closing as Iran Rebuilds Capabilities
The current strategic moment reflects cumulative effects of Trump’s maximum pressure campaign and Israeli operations that devastated Iranian proxies and military infrastructure. Iran faces structural pressures from economic sanctions choking oil revenues to China, collapsing domestic energy systems, and natural disasters straining government resources.
However, this window of opportunity may close as Iran reconstitutes its forces and nuclear program. Trump’s February 13 statement that Iranian power change “would be the best thing” signals the administration recognizes this historic opening while weighing risks of military intervention against continued diplomatic pressure and internal Iranian instability.
For conservatives who witnessed Biden’s appeasement emboldening enemies, Trump’s approach offers vindication of peace through strength principles. The administration refuses to repeat failed nuclear deals that funded terrorism while maintaining credible military options.
Whether Trump ultimately chooses strikes or continues leveraging Iran’s weakness through sanctions and regional partnerships, his refusal to let this rogue regime obtain nuclear weapons protects American interests and allies. This stands in stark contrast to the previous administration’s dangerous accommodations that brought the Middle East to crisis.
Sources:
The Expert Conversation: Should Trump strike Iran? What happens next if he does? – Atlantic Council
2026 National Defense Strategy by the Numbers: Radical Changes, Moderate Changes, and Some – CSIS
Trump says change in power in Iran would be ‘the best thing that could happen’ – KTVO
Trump Reverts to Diplomacy With Iran, but the Road Is Narrow – GV Wire














