US President Donald Trump has told his top national security advisors that if military action against Iran is authorized, it must be "swift and decisive," with the objective to strike the regime without opening a prolonged conflict that would last for weeks or months, according to NBC News.

According to the report, Trump has held high-level meetings with his advisors, including Vice President JD Vance, to evaluate surgical options. “If he does something, he wants it to be decisive,” a source close to the White House confidential.

However, the path to a swift victory is not guaranteed. Pentagon generals have not yet been able to assure that the Islamic regime would collapse immediately after an attack, which keeps the administration at a tactical crossroads.

Furthermore, doubts persist within his team about whether the United States currently has all the necessary military assets in the region to face a potential retaliation from Tehran. Given this scenario, the president might be inclined to authorize more limited attacks in a first phase, leaving open the possibility of a later escalation. Sources emphasize that the situation is evolving rapidly and that, so far, no final decision has been made. Military options on the table: According to the report, Trump presented his national security team this week with the objectives he seeks to achieve with any military action against Iran. Based on this, the Pentagon and US Central Command refined various operational options, which would be presented to the president for his evaluation. These deliberations come amid weeks of protests within Iran and signs of internal instability that, according to US officials, could make the regime more unpredictable and dangerous should it respond militarily against US forces or its allies, such as Israel.

Trump has publicly reiterated his support for the Iranian protesters. During a recent event, he assured that “help is on the way” and described the situation in the country as “fragile.”

Despite the drums of war, the president issued a message of caution,noting that he has received information about a halt in the execution of protesters and the use of lethal force against civilians by Tehran. “We're going to observe and see what the process is,” he declared. Meanwhile, the United States has taken precautionary measures in the region to protect its military and civilian personnel, although it has not deployed additional forces for a large-scale operation. Recently, hundreds of US troops left Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, relocating to safer locations to avoid becoming easy targets for a potential Iranian bombing. Washington, however, maintains aircraft, ships, and personnel capable of carrying out targeted strikes, should Trump decide to move forward.