Military Insider Makes Surprising Trump Prediction

President Donald Trump may be preparing for a major new phase in America’s confrontation with Iran after the November midterm elections, according to two retired senior U.S. military commanders.

Retired Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward, a former Navy SEAL who previously served as deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, argued Saturday that Iran has spent decades targeting American interests through indirect warfare, proxy groups, cyber operations and other asymmetric tactics.

Appearing on Newsmax’s Saturday Agenda alongside retired Gen. Wesley Clark, Harward said the United States should maintain pressure on Tehran rather than allowing the Iranian government to regain its footing.

His comments come as the U.S. military is expanding its presence in the Middle East. The Pentagon is sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the region, while additional Marines and naval forces are also being deployed. Multiple reports indicate the buildup could place three American carrier groups and two amphibious groups in the region by late November.

Harward Says Iran Has Targeted America For Decades

Harward said Iran’s conflict with the United States did not begin with the latest fighting.

Instead, he argued that Tehran has spent years using proxies, operatives and cyber capabilities to challenge Washington while avoiding a traditional head-to-head military confrontation.

“Iran’s been at war with us asymmetrically in operations like this for decades now,” Harward said during the interview, according to Newsmax.

The retired admiral connected the growing U.S. military presence to concerns about a recent attempted attack aboard a FlyDubai flight traveling toward Israel.

Authorities are investigating an incident in which the flight’s co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to bring down the aircraft before passengers and crew members intervened.

Trump has suggested investigators are examining whether Iran could have been connected to the incident, although a link has not been publicly established. The president warned that Iran would face an extremely strong response if evidence ultimately proves Tehran was involved.

Massive U.S. Military Buildup Underway

The Pentagon’s latest deployment includes the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, which carries more than 2,000 Marines.

The United States already has tens of thousands of troops operating throughout the Middle East, and the additional ships and personnel represent a significant increase in American firepower near Iran.

Harward said the deployment sends Tehran a clear signal that Washington is prepared for a sustained campaign rather than a brief show of force.

“We have to see this through,” he said.

Military assets in the region could give U.S. forces additional capability to strike Iranian missile positions, drone launch sites, weapons storage facilities and manufacturing operations if Trump orders another round of attacks.

Harward argued that destroying those capabilities would be essential to reducing Iran’s ability to threaten American forces and regional allies over the long term.

Economic Pressure Could Also Play A Major Role

Military force is only one part of the strategy being discussed.

Harward said continued economic pressure could eventually push Iran toward an internal breaking point, particularly if sanctions further restrict the government’s access to money and resources.

The Trump administration has recently intensified economic measures targeting Iranian industries and financial networks. U.S. officials have said the goal is to cut off revenue that Tehran can use to finance its military and regional operations.

For conservative voters who have long favored a “peace through strength” approach, the combination of military pressure and tougher sanctions could become one of the administration’s most consequential foreign-policy tests.

Clark Predicts Major Decisions After The Midterms

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, the former NATO supreme allied commander, also predicted that Iran may avoid a major escalation before the November elections.

Clark said he believes Trump could attempt to bring the conflict to a conclusion after Americans cast their midterm ballots.

Trump himself has publicly raised the possibility of renewed military action after the election if negotiations fail. He recently said he believes the United States could prevail shortly after Election Day, although he has also left open the possibility of action sooner.

Clark argued that Washington should maintain sanctions and naval pressure while remaining prepared to resume attacks against Iranian command centers and air-defense systems.

He also pointed to heavily fortified Iranian facilities, including the deeply buried complex sometimes referred to as Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz, as examples of targets that could present serious military challenges.

Retired Generals Raise The Possibility Of Regime Change

The strongest comments from both retired commanders involved Iran’s political future.

Clark argued that Washington should not settle for an agreement that simply allows the existing Iranian government to remain in power and rebuild its military strength.

Instead, he advocated supporting opposition forces inside Iran and increasing pressure on the regime until its grip on the country breaks.

Harward similarly said contacts inside Iran have indicated that some citizens would be prepared to move against the government if they received outside assistance.

Those views represent the opinions of the retired commanders, not an announced U.S. policy.

Regime change would also carry enormous risks. Iran retains missile capabilities that could threaten American military installations, Gulf allies and potentially targets farther abroad. Any escalation could produce retaliation against U.S. troops, allies or global energy infrastructure.

Trump Faces A High-Stakes Choice

The growing military buildup makes one thing increasingly clear: the Trump administration wants Iran to understand that the United States has options.

Three carrier strike groups, thousands of additional personnel and expanded amphibious forces would give the president substantial military flexibility if diplomacy collapses.

But the decision facing Washington goes far beyond whether to launch another round of airstrikes.

The larger question is whether the administration intends merely to weaken Iran’s military capabilities—or apply enough economic and military pressure to threaten the survival of the regime itself.

For Americans who believe decades of sanctions, negotiations and limited military responses have failed to change Tehran’s behavior, the coming weeks could mark a turning point.

Trump has repeatedly portrayed strength and deterrence as central pillars of his foreign policy. After the November midterms, voters may learn just how far he is willing to take that doctrine against Iran.