Expert Analysis on Trump's 'Total Destruction' Threat to Iran

US President Donald Trump has threatened ‘total destruction’ of Iran if negotiations taking place in Pakistan fail. What is the meaning of this ‘total destruction’?

International relations expert Teuku Rezasyah has provided his analysis. According to him, Trump would do the same as when the US attacked Iraq.

“The US could potentially repeat ‘Carpet Bombing’, as it did in Iraq in the past,” Rezasyah told reporters on Sunday (12/4/2026).

Rezasyah suspects Trump would also target civilian facilities. “In its upcoming attack, the US will strike all civilian and military facilities that it considers important,” said Rezasyah.

Rezasyah stated that negotiations between the US and Iran could fail if the US-Israel alliance acts out. Moreover, Israel, he said, feels abandoned by the US conducting unilateral talks with Iran.

“This round of negotiations is also complex. Because President Trump, who is facing impeachment threats, could potentially alter the agreement that is currently in process,” said Rezasyah.

Professor of international law at the University of Indonesia, Hikmahanto Juwana, does not know exactly what Trump means by ‘total destruction’. For Hikmahanto, war must not target civilians.

“This is what we do not know (about total destruction) and this constitutes a violation of the laws of war because war must not target all aspects of life. War is only permitted to weaken the enemy’s strength by attacking combatants and military installations,” explained Hikmahanto.

Hikmahanto opines that Trump is trying to force Iran to agree to the negotiations by issuing threats of ‘total destruction’. “Trump is attempting to shout so that Iran, like it or not, will agree to peace even if it is not advantageous for Iran. This is a strategy in mediation. It is not certain that Iran will submit,” he added.

It is known that Trump issued the threat of ‘total destruction’ to Iran. This could happen if Iran does not agree to the deal in the negotiations in Pakistan.

Trump warned that the US military is preparing itself with the “best ammunition” to attack Iran again if the agreement fails to be reached.

“We are loading ships with the best weapons ever made, even at a higher level than what we used before to carry out total destruction,” Trump stated firmly.

“And if we do not reach an agreement, we will use them, and we will use them very effectively,” he warned.