Arabic version: ترامب يسعى لتغيير النظام الإيراني دون قوات برية

President Donald Trump has stated that his primary goal in the ongoing conflict with Iran is to secure “freedom for the people”. Following a US-Israeli bombing campaign that began on March 4, 2026, analysts suggest that Trump may be aiming for the collapse of the Iranian regime, despite the complexities involved in achieving such a political shift without ground troops. According to Al Jazeera, experts emphasize that air strikes alone are unlikely to succeed in dismantling the ruling system in Tehran.

Kelly Grieco from the Stimson Center noted that while air power can damage infrastructure, historical precedents show that regime change usually requires ground forces. The ongoing conflict has already met with public disapproval, with only about one-quarter of Americans supporting the war, a stark contrast to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which had more than 55 percent support.

As the situation evolves, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth have shifted focus from regime change to more limited objectives, such as dismantling Iran’s nuclear and drone capabilities. Hegseth has assured that the campaign will not extend into a prolonged conflict, although the timeline for the military operation remains vague. Trump himself has suggested the conflict could last anywhere from four weeks to “far longer”.

Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for US ground troops to become involved, with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal expressing fears that this could soon become necessary. Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have pointed out the lack of a coherent strategy from the Trump administration regarding the war, questioning the legitimacy and rationale behind it. As the conflict continues, the administration’s objectives remain unclear, leading to uncertainty about the ultimate outcomes of the military action.