U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not rule out "wiping out" Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in a campaign similar to the fight against ISIS [1, 2].
This rhetoric marks a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, suggesting that the U.S. may shift from targeted strikes to a broader effort to dismantle the IRGC's organizational structure.
Trump said these comments while responding to a reporter's question regarding whether the IRGC could be eliminated in the same manner as the Islamic State [1]. He indicated that such a strategy is a possibility, stating, "I may try to wipe out Iran's Revolutionary Guards" [2].
The statement comes as the U.S. military maintains an active operational tempo in the region. The United States has carried out a fifth consecutive day of military strikes on Iranian targets [1].
When asked further about the potential for such an operation, Trump said, "Yeah, it does. We'll see what's happening" [1]. The IRGC is a critical branch of Iran's armed forces, tasked with protecting the country's Islamic system, and conducting unconventional warfare.
While the president did not provide a specific timeline or a detailed operational plan, the comparison to the ISIS campaign implies a strategy of high-intensity aerial and special operations designed to degrade leadership and infrastructure. This approach differs from previous diplomatic efforts to constrain the IRGC through sanctions and targeted pressure.
“"I may try to wipe out Iran's Revolutionary Guards."”
The comparison of the IRGC to ISIS suggests a pivot toward a 'total defeat' strategy rather than a containment policy. By framing the IRGC as an entity that can be 'wiped out,' the administration is signaling a willingness to engage in high-intensity conflict to remove a primary pillar of the Iranian state's security apparatus, potentially increasing the risk of a full-scale regional war.
