Richard Goldberg: President Trump Knows the Islamic Republic Has Crossed the Red Line and Will Act

Richard Goldberg, a senior analyst and advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former official in Donald Trump's administration, emphasized in an interview with Fox News that President Trump is preparing 'a broad military power' to have more operational options to confront the Islamic Republic. He wrote on his X account: Protests continue in Iran. Executions are being carried out secretly. President Trump's options are expanding as his stance towards power changes. Millions are ready to return to the streets if conditions become favorable. Goldberg released part of his conversation with Fox News, where he referred to the options available to Donald Trump, stating: He is now building capabilities and operational options; from attacking to decapitate the regime and targeting key command, control, and communication centers to oil flow, missile programs, and more. According to this former U.S. official, the President of the United States is well aware that the Islamic Republic has crossed the red line he previously outlined. Goldberg clarified: Widespread executions are currently being carried out secretly in Iran to prevent the President's red line from being activated again. But President Trump knows that that red line is practically destroyed. He knows this. Goldberg stated that Donald Trump is also aware of the Islamic Republic's history of targeting American interests and citizens, saying: This regime has been stained with the blood of Americans for decades; from Beirut to the Khobar Towers bombing to Iraq, and of course, assassination plots against him. In another part of his remarks, Goldberg described Trump's approach as a '180-degree turn' from Barack Obama's policies. He stated that while the people of Iran were fighting in the streets to overthrow the regime, the Obama administration was seeking a nuclear deal and 'sending love letters to the ayatollahs.' He continued: But now Donald Trump, seeing what has happened in the streets—millions coming out, killings in the streets, and executions that I believe are currently being carried out secretly—knows that his red line has effectively disappeared. The senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies emphasized at the end that Trump's clear stance has a direct impact on the atmosphere inside Iran, stating: I believe he knows what the right decision is and is articulating it. This stance has emboldened and encouraged millions in Iran; people who are ready to return to the streets if he remains committed to his promises regarding Iranian protesters. An American senator's prediction about the fall of the Islamic Republic and the outcome of elections thereafter coincided with Trump's trip to Davos, alongside the cancellation of the invitation to the Islamic Republic due to the killing of people in Iran.