Iran expert: Trump's strategy aids Tehran, elimination of leaders is the only solution

An Iranian researcher has cautioned that U.S. President Donald Trump's current strategy in the escalating conflict with Iran is counterproductive, potentially benefiting the Iranian regime. Beni Sabti, an expert at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), argued that Trump's approach is creating a scenario akin to "South Lebanon or Vietnam."

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President Trump is playing into their hands because he is creating South Lebanon or Vietnam. Continuing the war at this level plays into the hands of the Iranian regime.

Sabti stated in an interview with 103FM that continuing the conflict at its current level provides the Iranian regime with an excuse to maintain a state of emergency, neglect public needs, waste resources, and divert funds to groups like Hezbollah. He believes this prolonged conflict risks drawing the U.S. into an "Iranian quagmire."

Furthermore, Sabti expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of economic pressure and infrastructure damage in inciting public uprising against the Iranian government. He drew a parallel to Gaza, questioning whether such actions significantly impact leaders like Yahya Sinwar or Mohammed Deif. Sabti suggested that waiting for public discontent to manifest could take a year, implying a need for a more decisive action.

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We’ve seen this movie in Gaza. Did it matter to Yahya Sinwar or Mohammed Deif that we were bombing and destroying the buildings? Do we want to take a risk and wait a year until the public goes out into the streets?

"The only solution for the Iranian regime is to eliminate the senior officials and produce a result in a short period of time," Sabti asserted. He elaborated on Tehran's decision-making structure, identifying Mojtaba Khamenei as a "weak link" and proposing that neutralizing the key decision-makers surrounding him, such as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Ahmad Vahidi, would effectively solve the problem.

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The only solution for the Iranian regime is to eliminate the senior officials and produce a result in a short period of time.

The discussion also touched upon U.S. restrictions on strikes in Lebanon, with Sabti noting that while the IDF has inflicted damage on Hezbollah, American limitations hinder further progress. He implied that Israel might be acting as a U.S. proxy, similar to how Iran uses groups like Hezbollah.

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Mojtaba Khamenei is one link, and he is the weak link. If you uproot and destroy the 15 people around him, you solve the problem.