Military and economic pressure on Iran could trigger internal uprising, US officials say

US officials are openly discussing the possibility that pressure on Iran could produce an internal uprising or even fracture the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The comments come as President Donald Trump weighs how to end the military campaign while continuing to press Tehran economically.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Iranian public could rise against the regime, or divisions could emerge within the IRGC. “Maybe the people will rise up. There is 100% inflation, queues, the military isn’t getting paid. The central bank governor was in a panic last week,” he said.

Bessent’s remarks echoed Trump’s recent calls for Iranians to rise up and fight. When asked whether that meant he might send the CIA to arm people seeking to overthrow the regime, Trump did not rule out the possibility.

At the same time, Trump has held closed-door discussions with senior advisers about declaring the war in Iran over, according to The Wall Street Journal. US officials said Trump supported the idea. His assessment, as described in the report, is that once the military campaign ends, US economic pressure could achieve the remaining objectives, particularly the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program.

That approach would leave Tehran with what Trump sees as two choices: abandon its nuclear program or risk internal collapse. US forces have nevertheless continued striking Iranian targets, and Trump has warned that any further Iranian response would bring an even stronger US military reaction. Vice President JD Vance was expected to address the issue on Thursday.

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Maybe the people will rise up. There is 100% inflation, queues, the military isn’t getting paid. The central bank governor was in a panic last week.