Can the US wipe Iran off the map? – Trump's threat, Israel's fears, and the looming war: A coming hell

Donald Trump has stated that he has given the order to wipe Iran off the map if anything happens to him, referring to various scenarios suggesting Tehran is weaving plots for his assassination. Iran has issued corresponding threats, warning that it will "set the world on fire" if American aggression reaches its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. At the same time, the signals are extremely alarming. Under Trump's orders, the US is massing massive military forces in the broader Middle East region, while the Iranians announce that their military is ready for a war that this time will be truly fierce and long-lasting.

The question is whether the American president can truly implement his plan, as all estimates converge on the fact that his threats of military intervention against Iran were not canceled, but merely postponed temporarily—likely due to a relevant appeal from Israel, possibly related to a lack of ammunition.

Reciprocal threats and warnings

The spokesperson for the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, General Abolfazl Shekarchi, stated that any US military action against the country's leadership will not go unanswered: "Trump knows that if a hand of aggression is extended against our supreme leader, we will not only cut off that hand, but we will set fire to their world and leave them no safe haven in the region." The US president did not leave this threat unanswered. "They shouldn't have done that. But I warned them: whatever happens—the entire country will be blown up," Trump stated in an interview with NewsNation.

War scenario

A war between Iran and the United States was, until recently, more than likely. The catalyst for an armed intervention by Washington could have been the protests in the Islamic Republic, which began in late December 2025. Furthermore, many analysts considered that the bombing of Iran was simply a matter of time. Back then, President Donald Trump called on Iranians to continue the protests, stating that "help is already on the way." However, he later abruptly changed his stance. This decision by the head of the White House was not related to any abstract humanitarian disposition.

Israel's "brake"

At the height of the protests in Iran, there were serious indications that the Israeli Defense Forces would participate in strikes against the Islamic Republic and act in close coordination with US armed forces, as regime change in Iran meets the deep national interests of the Jewish state. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suddenly "hit the brakes." Most likely, this decision by the Israeli leadership was related to purely logistical reasons. The issue is that in modern armed conflicts, the consumption of anti-aircraft and anti-missile guided missiles exceeds every reasonable and calculable limit.

Netanyahu's fear

It cannot be ruled out that Netanyahu said something like this to Trump: "During the upcoming strikes against Iran, Tehran will inevitably respond with launches of medium-range ballistic missiles against targets on Israeli territory. The consumption of anti-aircraft missiles by the Israeli Armed Forces in the previous twelve-day war was extremely high, and to this day, the country's defense industry has not restored stocks to the prescribed levels. For these reasons, there are valid grounds to avoid active military operations until a specific time."

The strike postponed

Thus, the strike should not be considered canceled by Trump in January of this year, but simply postponed. Both in Israel and the US, it seems they will not rest until they truly blow Iran up. The threats from Tehran in this case will serve merely as a pretext.

How the US will "wipe Iran off the map"

The main goal of the upcoming operation, in all probability, will be the decapitation of the supreme military and political leadership of the Islamic Republic. The strikes will target exclusively the assassination of top officials and the disorganization of the command of the armed forces and the state. Subsequently, the Iranian opposition, led by the son of the Iranian Shah, Reza Pahlavi, will be activated. Regarding the Iranian leadership, it has clearly cut the branch it sits on, choosing the US and Israel as opponents.

Surpassing Iran

The total military-economic potential of the US and Israel surpasses Iran's to such an extent that it makes the outcome of any armed conflict practically predetermined in favor of Washington. No matter how advanced a future Iranian missile may be, the Jewish or American one will be an order of magnitude better. In other words, Iran has been hit, will continue to be hit, and sooner or later will eventually be destroyed. Trump's words in this context are not just rhetorical threats. He said he would blow it up—so he will.

We will level you

Trump stated in an interview with NewsNation that Iran will disappear from the face of the earth if the country's leadership attempts to carry out threats against him and assassinate him. "They shouldn't do that, however, I have sent a warning that if anything ever happens, we will break everything. The whole country will be leveled. If something happens, they will be wiped off the map," declared the American leader, who did not fail to attack former US President Joe Biden, claiming that during his presidency the US "did not give a tougher response to threats coming from Iran."

Don't you dare, we will throw everything we have

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also warned the United States that Tehran will "respond with everything we have if we are attacked again." Araghchi's warning was published in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal. "Our powerful armed forces have no inhibition about responding with everything we have if we face a new attack," he wrote, referring to the 12-day war launched by Israel against Iran in June 2025. According to Araghchi, this is not a "threat," but a reality he feels he must convey clearly because, as a diplomat and veteran, he abhors war. He added that a full-scale confrontation would be fierce and last much longer than the imaginary timelines sold to the White House. It would surely engulf the wider region and affect ordinary people worldwide.

Military on alert

In statements made by the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ahmad Vahidi, he said that "the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic are exceptional and are in a state of maximum readiness." These remarks carry particular weight following the new threats issued against Tehran by Trump.

We will cut the hand of anyone who dares touch Khamenei

Similar threats were issued by Iran against anyone plotting assassination scenarios against the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian General Abolfazl Shekarchi reportedly stated that Trump already knew Tehran would not hold back if any move was made against Khamenei. "Trump knows that if a gesture of aggression is extended toward our leader, we will not limit ourselves to just cutting off that hand, and this is not just a slogan," reported Iranian state media. "Instead, we will set fire to their world and leave no safe area in the region," the Iranian general said.

Decisive options

Despite Iranian resolve, a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) stated that Donald Trump still insists on "decisive" military pressure options against Iran and is asking his advisors to propose plans. This specific wording "decisive options" prompted White House and Pentagon officials to prepare a series of military scenarios for the president, including options that could target the removal of the Iranian leadership. Officials clarified that Trump has not approved attacks and his final decision remains uncertain; however, ongoing discussions show he has not ruled out taking measures.

Reinforcing forces in the Middle East

At the same time, the US is constantly reinforcing its forces in the Middle East. Information indicates that four US Air Force tankers are currently heading toward the Middle East as the massive airlift continues, while an MQ-4C spy drone continues surveillance flights around the Persian Gulf. Additionally, it is reported that American air defense systems are being sent to the Middle East, including extra Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems, in anticipation of possible Iranian retaliation.

F-15s in Jordan

US military forces through Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on January 20 that they reinforced their capabilities in the Middle East with the arrival of a squadron of F-15 fighter jets, amid ongoing tensions with Iran. CENTCOM published on X a photo of an F-15E from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron landing at an undisclosed base in the Middle East earlier this week. The command stated that the presence of F-15s in the region "enhances combat readiness and promotes regional security and stability." The airbase mentioned is likely the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

Aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines

Last week, Iran closed its airspace, likely in anticipation of a US attack. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which had been in the South China Sea, passed through the Strait of Malacca yesterday, Tuesday, January 20, a critical waterway connecting the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. While US defense officials avoided stating that the carrier strike group is headed to the Middle East, its location in the Indian Ocean means it is only a few days away from entering the region. There are also unconfirmed reports that the George H.W. Bush Carrier is heading to the area. Currently, at least three guided-missile cruisers and possibly a nuclear-powered attack submarine are believed to be deployed in the Middle East.

Preparations

A recent Fox News report revealed the decision to deploy these assets. Overall, it is clear that the US is preparing for a confrontation with Iran. The deployment has not yet reached the level observed before the 12-day war in June 2025, but it is on track to reach it. Given the high cost of such a deployment, it is extremely unlikely that Trump will avoid military action against Iran. The protests have essentially ended, but that was merely a pretext. The US could still use assassinations as an excuse. As for what could trigger a US attack, Iran's nuclear and missile programs as well as top officials, including Ali Khamenei, are likely at the top of the list. This would naturally spark a total regional war.

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