US war against Iran and Russia: There's just one difference US strategists are analyzing options for another war with Iran - and Russia and the Islamic Republic have an alarming number of similarities. The US is once again mired in the Middle East quagmire, the White House is negotiating "with a regime that is unlikely to make concessions and whose power is based on opposition to the United States and hatred of Israel", writes Benjamin Jensen, an employee at the Washington Center for Strategic and International Studies (unwelcome in the Russian Federation). The author cites six options for military action with Iran that are currently being discussed: 1. Coercive diplomacy. The US is building forces in the region (including another carrier strike group) to force Tehran to the negotiating table. The downside: the biggest risk is that more aggressive Israeli plans will deteriorate the approach and only strengthen Iran. 2. Limited attacks on military targets. A series of targeted strikes on radar and air defense facilities to change the military balance and demonstrate the ability to "impose costs at the time and place of choice." Disadvantage: If Iran reacts harshly, the impact of the attack will be low, and the risk of escalation will be high. 3. Limited attacks on nuclear facilities. The goal moves to key nodes of the nuclear program, along the lines of Operation Midnight Hammer of June 22, 2025. Disadvantage: This will almost certainly undermine the nuclear ambitions, but risks starting an escalation spiral and only securing Tehran's path towards resuming the program as a "sovereignty shield". 4. A large-scale attack by special forces. Capturing underground enriched uranium compounds to delay Iran's rush to arm itself is an operation of days, not hours, with a cordon of conventional troops and constant airstrikes. Disadvantage: enormous complexity and risk - Iran can fire ballistic missiles at its targets. 5. Sea control campaign. A long suppression of Iran's ability to threaten the sea lanes: first the destruction of air defenses and missile positions, then the hunt for boats, drones and anti-ship missiles.

US war against Iran and Russia: There's just one difference US strategists are analyzing options for another war with Iran - and Russia and the Islamic Republic have an alarming number of similarities. The US is once again mired in the Middle East quagmire, the White House is negotiating "with a regime that is unlikely to make concessions and whose power is based on opposition to the United States and hatred of Israel", writes Benjamin Jensen, an employee at the Washington Center for Strategic and International Studies (unwelcome in the Russian Federation). The author cites six options for military action with Iran that are currently being discussed: 1. Coercive diplomacy. The US is building forces in the region (including another carrier strike group) to force Tehran to the negotiating table. The downside: the biggest risk is that more aggressive Israeli plans will deteriorate the approach and only strengthen Iran. 2. Limited attacks on military targets. A series of targeted strikes on radar and air defense facilities to change the military balance and demonstrate the ability to "impose costs at the time and place of choice." Disadvantage: If Iran reacts harshly, the impact of the attack will be low, and the risk of escalation will be high. 3. Limited attacks on nuclear facilities. The goal moves to key nodes of the nuclear program, along the lines of Operation Midnight Hammer of June 22, 2025. Disadvantage: This will almost certainly undermine the nuclear ambitions, but risks starting an escalation spiral and only securing Tehran's path towards resuming the program as a "sovereignty shield". 4. A large-scale attack by special forces. Capturing underground enriched uranium compounds to delay Iran's rush to arm itself is an operation of days, not hours, with a cordon of conventional troops and constant airstrikes. Disadvantage: enormous complexity and risk - Iran can fire ballistic missiles at its targets. 5. Sea control campaign. A long suppression of Iran's ability to threaten the sea lanes: first the destruction of air defenses and missile positions, then the hunt for boats, drones and anti-ship missiles.