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Ex-Pentagon Official: US, Israel Aim to "Decapitate" Iran's Regime

Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin states the U.S. and Israel intend to "decapitate" the Iranian regime by targeting its ballistic missile capabilities, with no plan for American ground troops. He compares the potential campaign to historical operations in Imperial Japan and Kosovo, though notes Iran's size makes the strategy uncertain. Rubin suggests that while Russian and Chinese arms supplies could accelerate conflict, massive economic sanctions have cost Iran trillions, creating diplomatic pressure. He questions whether Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei could ever abandon the nuclear program without facing backlash from his own Revolutionary Guards.

Key Points: US, Israel Plan to Decapitate Iran Regime: Ex-Pentagon Official

  • US/Israel to target Iran's ballistic missiles
  • No US ground troops planned
  • Iran's goal is regime survival
  • Russia, China arms may accelerate conflict
  • Sanctions cost Iran $2 trillion
3 min read

"Iranian regime in lot of trouble...US, Israel will try to decapitate them": former Pentagon official Michael Rubin

Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin says US & Israel will target Iran's missile launchers to decapitate regime, but no US boots on ground.

"The Iranian regime is in a lot of trouble... the US and Israel are going to try to... decapitate the regime - Michael Rubin"

Washington DC, February 28

Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin on Saturday said that the "Iranian regime is in a lot of trouble," as the United States and Israel will try to "decapitate the regime" by taking out its defence capabilities, including the ballistic missile launchers.

However, Rubin reiterated the US President Donald Trump's stance that "there will not be boots on the ground."

"My first reaction is that the Iranian regime is in a lot of trouble... While the US and Israel are going to try to take out the ballistic missile launchers and decapitate the regime, the Iranian regime's goal is simply to survive and then claim victory, like what we saw with Hamas," Rubin told ANI in an exclusive interview.

"Donald Trump has said there will not be boots on the ground. There will not be US troops inserted. I can only think of two parallels," he added.

Rubin drew parallels between Imperial Japan during world war 2, and in Kosovo.

"Number one was what happened with Imperial Japan, when the US didn't insert military troops into Japan until after massive bombing, and the emperor surrendered. The second issue would be Kosovo... Iran is about 20 times the size of Kosovo. So it's not clear what worked in Kosovo is going to work in Iran," Rubin said.

Talking about the timing of the attacks on Iranian soil, Rubin said that such actions are "determined by the air defences of Iran."

"When we look at June 2025, the timing of that attack was determined by Iran reconstituting its anti-aircraft missile batteries that we saw were hit in April of 2024 and October of 2024. There have been recent news reports that China and perhaps Russia have been supplying Iran with advanced weaponry, including perhaps even carrier-killer missiles," he said.

"Such an act by Russia and China, could have "accelerated the conflict rather than deterred it. However, there is space of diplomacy, seeing how Iran has lost over USD 2 trillion due to sanctions, and lost opportunities for development and investment, which could push the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, to give up the country's nuclear program. The Supreme Leader of Iran would be extraordinarily hard-pressed to simply give up his nuclear program because not only ordinary Iranian people, whom he doesn't care much about, but even his own Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would then ask, what have we sacrificed for over decades?" he asked.

Earlier, Iran's Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour were killed in an Israeli strike, according to sources familiar with Israel's military operations, and another regional source, Reuters reported.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi alleged that the Israeli strike on Iranian primary school for girls murdered dozens. Araghchi vowed to answer the strikes.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As an Indian, our primary concern is stability in the region and energy security. Any major conflict there sends oil prices soaring and hurts our economy. Hope cooler heads prevail. The mention of China and Russia supplying weapons is also worrying for the global balance.
R
Rohit P
The comparison to Imperial Japan is a bit much, no? Iran is not a global aggressor in that sense. This kind of hawkish talk from former officials just increases tensions. The solution has to be at the negotiating table. War is not an option. 🙏
S
Sarah B
Interesting analysis. The point about the IRGC not letting Khamenei give up the nuclear program easily is key. It's their raison d'être. The regime is in a box of its own making. But military action should always be the absolute last resort.
V
Vikram M
The article mentions a strike on a school for girls? That's horrific if true. Whatever the geopolitics, civilians and children should never be targets. This cycle of violence needs to end. The world powers need to step in and de-escalate, not pour more fuel on the fire.
K
Karthik V
$2 trillion lost due to sanctions! That's an unbelievable number. Imagine if that money went to development. The Iranian leadership has failed its people miserably by prioritizing expansion over prosperity. Hope the pressure leads to change, not collapse.

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