US plans to target IRGC commander if Iran disrupts oil shipments

As the ceasefire hangs by a thread, the United States is actively formulating a list of Iranian military targets intended for elimination, a strategy that explicitly includes the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). American defense officials are currently drafting contingency plans that would focus on Iran's military assets concentrated around the Strait of Hormuz should diplomatic efforts fail. This narrow waterway is a critical chokepoint, channeling roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas exports alongside other essential commodities.

The proposed military response involves "dynamic targeting" tactics designed to neutralize Iran's asymmetric maritime capabilities, such as fast-attack boats and minelaying vessels, which operate across the Strait, the southern Arabian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman. These assets are viewed as the primary tools Iran uses to disrupt global shipping and exert pressure on international energy supplies. Beyond maritime threats, officials are also considering strikes on infrastructure and energy facilities, as well as targeting high-ranking regime figures deemed to be "obstructionists."

One source familiar with the discussions confirmed that Ahmad Vahidi, the current commander of the IRGC, has been specifically referenced in these strategic considerations. Vahidi holds a seat on the Supreme National Security Council, the body currently steering Iran's affairs. This council has effectively assumed operational control while Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains out of the public eye, reportedly in hiding following injuries sustained in recent US-Israeli airstrikes. The council includes other prominent figures such as parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who is acting as the chief negotiator with Washington, alongside hardliner Saeed Jalili, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and the council's new secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr.

Despite the aggressive planning, officials have issued stark warnings regarding the consequences of renewed strikes in the region. A source told CNN that restoring safe passage for shipping would not be a quick fix unless there is unequivocal proof that Iran's military capability has been destroyed or that the US can mitigate the remaining risks. The source emphasized that the ultimate decision rests on how much risk President Trump is willing to accept to force vessels through the strait. There are growing concerns within US circles about the danger of widening the conflict, particularly regarding the controversial escalation of targeting civilian infrastructure.

This military posturing coincides with President Donald Trump's repeated assertions that Iran's leadership is fractured following joint operations that eliminated several senior figures, including the Supreme Leader. Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed that internal divisions are complicating diplomatic efforts, stating, "Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don't know!" He further described the infighting between "Hardliners," who he said are "losing BADLY on the battlefield," and "Moderates," whom he dismissed as not being moderate at all. Speaking on MS Now, Trump continued this line of argument, noting that the US has removed "three levels of leaders" and everyone close behind them, leaving the country in a state of confusion over who can officially speak for it. These claims underscore the potential for prolonged instability and the significant risks to communities dependent on stable energy supplies and secure maritime trade routes.

They simply do not know." Officials maintain that President Trump's extended two-week ceasefire is strictly temporary, refusing to let the public believe the pause is permanent. While the US military stands ready to resume operations at a moment's notice, the administration's true priorities lie elsewhere.

The president remains seething over Iran's stubborn refusal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway effectively sealed off following the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes. On April 13, Washington moved decisively to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports, successfully redirecting at least 33 vessels as of Thursday. The Pentagon confirmed that US forces intercepted no fewer than three ships, including two operating in the Indian Ocean, a staggering 2,000 miles from the Persian Gulf. The latest crackdown occurred overnight on Wednesday when authorities boarded a stateless vessel carrying Iranian oil, effectively seizing it under the banner of sanctions.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not shy away from boasting about the economic strangulation inflicted upon Tehran. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, she declared, "We are completely strangling their [Iran's] economy through this blockade. They are losing $500 million a day." She painted a grim picture of Kharg Island, describing it as completely choked, unable to move oil in or out, and leaving Iranian citizens unable to receive their own paychecks due to the crushing leverage President Trump has deployed.

Leavitt added, "Not only have they been significantly weakened and obliterated militarily, but they are losing economically and financially every single moment that passes with this blockade." These assertions highlight a strategy where information flows only through official channels, leaving the broader public in the dark about the full scope of these operations. The risk to regional stability looms large as communities face the potential fallout of a prolonged economic siege, yet the details remain tightly guarded.