US Prepares for Possible Long-Term Conflict in Iran, Raising Cyber and Psychological Options.
President Trump has been presented with an array of military options for Iran that extend beyond conventional airstrikes, according to two Defense Department officials. These plans are part of the ongoing deliberations about how to address the growing protests in Iran, which have resulted in at least 544 deaths.
Trump warned on Sunday that if Iranian security forces kill protesters, "we would get involved" and said the US military is "looking at some very strong options." The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump is "unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary," adding that airstrikes are just one of many possible tools.
In addition to air power, Pentagon planners have been exploring cyber operation and psychological campaigns aimed at disrupting Iranian command structures, communications, and state-run media. These operations can occur simultaneously with traditional military force or as standalone actions.
Cyber attacks could target Iran's digital infrastructure, while psychological campaigns might involve propaganda efforts to erode the government's legitimacy among its own people. The US aims to disrupt Iranian command structures, in what the military planners call integrated operations.
The two defense officials stressed that no final decision has been made and diplomatic channels remain open. However, this expanded array of options suggests that Washington is preparing for scenarios where conflict may extend beyond battlefield strikes to include sustained digital and influence campaigns.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote on social media Friday that "today like the past, the US is wrong in its calculations about Iran."
President Trump has been presented with an array of military options for Iran that extend beyond conventional airstrikes, according to two Defense Department officials. These plans are part of the ongoing deliberations about how to address the growing protests in Iran, which have resulted in at least 544 deaths.
Trump warned on Sunday that if Iranian security forces kill protesters, "we would get involved" and said the US military is "looking at some very strong options." The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump is "unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary," adding that airstrikes are just one of many possible tools.
In addition to air power, Pentagon planners have been exploring cyber operation and psychological campaigns aimed at disrupting Iranian command structures, communications, and state-run media. These operations can occur simultaneously with traditional military force or as standalone actions.
Cyber attacks could target Iran's digital infrastructure, while psychological campaigns might involve propaganda efforts to erode the government's legitimacy among its own people. The US aims to disrupt Iranian command structures, in what the military planners call integrated operations.
The two defense officials stressed that no final decision has been made and diplomatic channels remain open. However, this expanded array of options suggests that Washington is preparing for scenarios where conflict may extend beyond battlefield strikes to include sustained digital and influence campaigns.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote on social media Friday that "today like the past, the US is wrong in its calculations about Iran."
. The thought of cyber attacks and psychological campaigns sounds super creepy. It's one thing to have tensions between countries, but this seems way more intense than that. I hope they're not planning on going full-on Orwellian on Iran 
. And what's up with the military options that go beyond airstrikes? It feels like we're living in a movie or something 
. My mind is racing with all the possibilities and I just want to know what's gonna happen next 
. Is diplomacy even still an option here or are we heading towards a full-blown conflict? 
i mean whats next a nuke war? its not even clear if any of these options will actually work but its scary how low ppl are willing to go in terms of cyber warfare and psychological ops. like, whats the endgame here? are we just gonna keep escalating till everyone's a mess? 
i feel bad for iran btw, 544 deaths is insane 
. at least 544 deaths and he's still thinking airstrikes are gonna solve everything? cyber ops and psychological campaigns sound like a great way to mess with some heads, though 
. ayatollah ali khamenei says trump is wrong again... yeah, no kidding 
. wonder what the iranians think of their own supreme leader's social media skills 
.
. i mean i get that the us is worried about those protests, but is it really necessary to escalate things this much? seems like they're preparing for a scenario where iran's all like "lol we're not afraid of you" 
And 544 deaths? Who needs human rights when you've got cyber attacks and propaganda campaigns, am I right? 
.
. People losing their lives over politics... can't we just talk it out or something? 
I remember when I was a kid, we had these big rallies and demonstrations for social causes, but they were always peaceful 
. Nowadays, it feels like we're stuck in some kind of never-ending cycle of violence 
I guess that's just the old person in me talking 
It's like, there's got to be another way to address these issues, you know? Maybe we should be looking at how to support the people in Iran instead of just trying to take down their government... that's where the real power is, right? 
but is that good or bad?
think this is getting way too intense, we're talking cyber ops and psychological games here, what's next? 
at least 544 people have lost their lives over this, let's not forget the human cost 
.
Have you seen those videos of Iranian hackers going after US systems? It's like a digital cat-and-mouse game... 
What do u think the US should do instead of escalating the situation? Maybe we can help facilitate dialogue or support peaceful protests? 
. I get that tensions are high, but don't they want to keep things peaceful at all costs? I know some people might say it's a necessary evil or whatever, but can't we try something else for once?
and it's getting super ugly 
️ that's not how diplomacy works 
and find a way to resolve this peacefully 
and now i'm reading about war in iran? 
but it looks like there are still so many issues that can't be solved through talking... maybe this cyber stuff is a good idea though, if they can just use their computers to make the bad guys do what they want 