Killing Khamenei? Hitting military sites? It is unclear what a US attack on Iran would achieve | Dan Sabbagh

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editorJanuary 30, 2026 at 02:00 PM

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Following Donald Trump's threats to Iran, the US has increased its military presence in the Middle East, including deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to the Indian Ocean and F-15 fighters to Jordan. The US is also reportedly deploying air defense systems to the Gulf to protect bases from potential Iranian counterattacks. While the purpose of a potential attack remains unclear, a former US national security council member suggests a possible military option could involve targeting Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, the success of such an operation is uncertain, requiring significant intelligence, similar to a previous attempt to capture Nicolás Maduro. Other military options, such as targeting Iranian military sites, may not significantly weaken the regime.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

South China Sea 40% Joe Biden 40% Indian Ocean 40% CIA 50% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×250% USS Abraham Lincoln 60% Michael Carpenter 60% Israel ×370% Donald Trump 70% Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ×270% United States ×480% Iran ×690%

Keywords

us attack on iran 90% khamenei 80% military sites 70% iranian regime 60% air defense systems 60% us military 60% capture-or-kill operation 50% tomahawk cruise missiles 50% military assets 50% israel 40%