US changes military strategy towards Iran – Rezazade

Statements by the Pentagon leadership about the end of the era of “politically correct wars” indicate a possible change in the United States’ approach to military operations in the Middle East. At the same time, Washington continues to deploy additional forces to the region, which increases tensions around Iran.

During one of his speeches, US official Pete Hegseth said that the current US strategy will differ from previous military campaigns. According to him, the amount of combat power that is already in the process of being deployed significantly exceeds the forces currently being used, especially taking into account the potential of the Israeli army.

In his statement, he also emphasized that the US military has clearly defined goals and the broadest possible powers on the battlefield, unlike previous conflicts, which were characterized by vague goals and strict restrictions on the use of force.

International expert and first vice president of the Iranian opposition in Washington, Ali Reza Rezazade, believes that such statements are strategic in nature and are aimed not only at the US domestic audience, but also at forming a new balance of deterrence in the region.

“In fact, this is a signal to Tehran that the rules of the game are changing. The US is demonstrating its readiness to act tougher and faster, without the political constraints that often restrained military decisions in past decades,” Rezazade notes.

According to him, the increase in the US military presence in the region can pursue several goals at once — from a demonstration of force to the preparation of potential deterrence scenarios or a larger-scale operation.

“It is important to understand that the demonstration of force itself is already an element of strategy. When significant military resources are concentrated near Iran, this creates psychological and political pressure that can influence the decisions of the country's leadership,” the expert emphasizes.

Rezazade also emphasizes that the new rhetoric of the American military may indicate a rethinking of the experience of previous conflicts in the Middle East.

“In the past, the United States often acted in conditions of complex political constraints and blurred strategic tasks. Today, Washington increasingly speaks of the need for clear goals and rapid achievement of results. This may mean a completely different nature of the potential confrontation,” he explains.

According to the expert, the further development of the situation will depend on whether the parties will limit themselves to a demonstration of force, or the confrontation will enter a more active phase.

“Statements of this level are never made by chance. They create a new atmosphere of deterrence and at the same time raise the stakes in the regional game,” Ali Reza Rezazade summarizes.