Top General: Hit Iran While They’re DOWN

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A retired four-star general is urging President Trump to seize a historic opportunity for military strikes against Iran, arguing that diplomacy only delays the inevitable confrontation with a regime he says lies about its nuclear ambitions while facing unprecedented weakness.

Story Snapshot

Gen. Jack Keane calls military action against Iran the “best option” while the regime faces political, economic, and military vulnerability
Recent Oman nuclear talks yielded no breakthrough despite Trump describing them as “very good,” with enrichment demands remaining a sticking point
Trump stated regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen,” signaling openness to military options beyond diplomacy
U.S. strikes in June 2025 already degraded Iran’s nuclear complex, with maximum pressure sanctions zeroing out oil exports

Keane Urges Strike During Iran’s Weakest Moment

Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane told Fox & Friends Weekend on February 8, 2026, that military action represents the optimal path forward as Iran suffers from internal protests, IRGC fractures, and economic devastation from sanctions. Keane emphasized Iran’s nuclear program serves no legitimate civilian energy purpose, citing that one nuclear facility provides less than one percent of the nation’s electrical grid.

He warned that granting sanctions relief through diplomatic deals would merely prolong the ayatollahs’ grip on power, squandering Trump’s leverage to enable regime collapse and establish lasting Middle East peace.

Retired Army general predicts ‘formidable’ US military action against Iran if Trump pulls triggerhttps://t.co/d4CHBaNiag

— The Hill (@thehill) February 15, 2026

Nuclear Talks Stall Despite Trump’s Optimism

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and advisor Jared Kushner conducted nuclear negotiations in Oman on February 7, 2026, ahead of Trump’s comments describing the discussions as “very good” while traveling to Mar-a-Lago. Trump noted Iran desperately wants a deal but must abandon nuclear weapons development as a prerequisite.

The following day, Witkoff, Kushner, and CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, demonstrating military readiness amid diplomatic uncertainty. Despite Trump’s measured optimism, disagreements over uranium enrichment continue blocking progress, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei previously rejecting American proposals as “outrageous.”

Maximum Pressure Campaign Intensifies

Trump reinstated comprehensive sanctions in February 2025, targeting Iran’s oil exports with the goal of forcing a new nuclear agreement and curbing regional threats. By March 2025, Trump sent a letter to Khamenei warning of military consequences if nuclear talks failed, while imposing additional sanctions designed to eliminate oil revenue entirely.

Iran responded with defiance, announcing new nuclear plants in April 2025, canceling diplomatic meetings in May, and test-firing missiles while threatening U.S. military bases throughout the region. The escalation culminated in June 2025 when U.S. forces conducted strikes degrading Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, actions confirmed in the 2026 National Defense Strategy as significantly weakening the regime.

Regime Change Becomes Central Question

Trump publicly stated on February 13, 2026, that regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen,” elevating the discussion beyond nuclear containment to fundamental transformation of Iranian governance.

This position aligns with conservative priorities for Middle East stability and American security, recognizing that the Islamic Republic’s sponsorship of terrorism and proxy warfare undermines regional peace regardless of nuclear status.

However, Atlantic Council analysts warn that targeted military strikes risk unintended consequences, including an IRGC coup, civil war, or prolonged instability, noting Iran lacks a viable democratic opposition ready to govern. The fundamental tension remains whether Trump will accept another flawed diplomatic arrangement or exercise military options while Iran faces maximum vulnerability.