On Monday, July 13, President Donald Trump was asked whether the American or Israeli military could target Iran’s remaining third, fourth, and fifth-tier leaders. Trump responded, "Yeah, I do, but we don’t want to talk about that," indicating knowledge of their locations but withholding details on any plans.

Trump also stated, "I know a lot about that subject. I know a lot, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about it right now."

The public figures of Iran’s current regime, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, reportedly lack control over the armed forces. Trump estimated that 52,000 Iranians were killed by the regime over two days in January, underscoring the ruthlessness of Iran’s leadership.

Since February 28, U.S. and Israeli strikes have devastated Iran’s first and second tiers of leadership. Sixty-eight-year-old Ahmad Vahidi has since emerged from retirement to lead the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

A satellite image dated July 9, 2026, shows damage to the control tower at the port of Chabahar, Iran.

On July 14, an expert named Lake agreed with Trump’s assessment that it is unrealistic to expect the Iranian people to rise up so soon after such a traumatic mass killing.

Experts advise watching for potential splits within Iran’s security forces as the situation develops.

Fox News contributor Hewitt, who has extensive experience in national media and political debates, provided context on the ongoing conflict.

Sources