If Attack on Iran Occurs, US Boasts of Targeting Khamenei and Three Key Military Objectives

NEW YORK — The New York Times reported in the early hours of Monday (24/2/2026) that United States President Donald Trump has informed his advisers that he is considering launching strikes against Iran.

This includes toppling Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, should Tehran fail to meet Washington’s demands during ongoing diplomatic efforts.

The newspaper added that the strike targets under consideration include Iran’s Revolutionary Guard headquarters, the country’s nuclear facilities, and its ballistic missile programme.

Should these measures fail to compel Tehran to meet his demands, Trump has told his advisers that he would keep open the possibility of launching a military strike later this year, aimed at helping to overthrow Iran’s Supreme Leader.

The newspaper noted that there is scepticism, even within the administration, over whether such an objective could be achieved through airstrikes alone.

The newspaper reported that behind the scenes, a new proposal from both sides is being considered that could provide a way out of military conflict — a highly limited nuclear enrichment programme that Iran could conduct exclusively for medical research and treatment purposes.

According to the newspaper, senior American and Iranian negotiators are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Thursday in what it described as last-minute negotiations.

The newspaper explained that the meeting would discuss the new proposal that could create an off-ramp to avoid the outbreak of military conflict, at a time when Washington has deployed two aircraft carrier groups to the region within striking distance of Iranian targets.