As tensions with Tehran continue to rise, former CIA Director and CENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus has revealed that any future U.S. air campaign against Iran would not be limited to nuclear sites—but would include a wide-scale assault on Iran’s air defense and missile infrastructure to preempt any retaliation.
Petraeus, a central architect of American military doctrine in the Middle East, confirmed that detailed plans to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program have existed for over 15 years. In a recent statement, he described how the U.S. military has conducted full-scale rehearsals simulating a multi-front assault on Iran’s nuclear and missile facilities, involving long-range bombers, mid-air refueling, command and control systems, electronic warfare units, and live weapon deployment.
“We ran the full exercise once inside the United States,” Petraeus explained. “Every element—from the aircraft flying extended ranges, to the refueling operations, electronic jamming, precision munitions, and coordinated command and control—worked exactly as planned.”
In recent days, the U.S. military has reportedly stationed long-range bombers at a key air base in the Indian Ocean, echoing preparations that preceded the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and the 2003 campaign in Iraq. This deployment is a clear signal to Tehran and the world that Washington is ready to act decisively if Iran refuses to negotiate a revised nuclear agreement with the Trump administration.
The Biden-era policy of appeasement, which saw Iran emboldened and flush with sanctions relief, is over. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has reestablished American credibility in the region, and Tehran now faces a stark choice: return to the negotiating table or face the full weight of U.S. military power.
Petraeus emphasized that any future operation would aim not just to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities, but also to incapacitate its ability to respond. Iran’s advanced air defense systems, long-range missiles, and command structures would be targeted to ensure a crippling first strike.
This strategic clarity is welcomed by Israel and U.S. allies in the Gulf, who have long warned that Iran’s nuclear program is not peaceful and that Tehran’s regional ambitions are inseparable from its nuclear agenda. Iran continues to fund and arm terror proxies across the region, from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza—all as part of its plan to surround and destroy Israel.
As Petraeus made clear, the military option has never been theoretical. It’s ready, rehearsed, and devastatingly effective. The message to Iran is simple: time is running out.
