Pompeo Predicts End of Iran Regime as Trump Prepares ‘Maximum Pressure 2.0’

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that the end of Iran‘s Islamic regime is imminent, citing the anticipated return of Donald Trump to the White House and the revival of a ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against Tehran. Speaking at the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) headquarters in Paris on Thursday, Pompeo emphasized that the regime’s collapse is within reach.

‘In just a few days, Trump will return to office. He has talked in detail about bringing back the Maximum Pressure Campaign that had proved so successful,’ Pompeo said. He added that the campaign would mark ‘the beginning of the end’ for the Iranian regime, which he described as ‘fragile’ and ‘dysfunctional.’

The ‘maximum pressure’ strategy, first implemented during Trump’s initial presidency, involved severe economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Pompeo hinted that a second iteration of the campaign, dubbed ‘maximum pressure 2.0,’ could include even stricter sanctions and potential military actions to prevent Iran from enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels.

Iran has recently escalated its military exercises, including near the Natanz nuclear enrichment plant, in response to what it calls ‘new security threats.’ The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has framed these drills as a defensive measure against potential U.S. aggression.

Kamran Matin, Director of the Centre for Advanced International Theory at the University of Sussex, told The New Arab that Pompeo’s remarks reflect a shifting regional dynamic following the October 7 attacks. He noted that Iran’s allies in the ‘Axis of Resistance’ have faced significant setbacks, weakening Tehran’s negotiating position. Matin warned that Trump’s renewed pressure campaign could push Iran to the brink, forcing it to either dismantle its nuclear program or face military strikes.

Pompeo also praised the NCRI’s 10-point plan for a post-mullah Iran, calling it a ‘democratic alternative’ to the current regime. He commended NCRI leader Maryam Rajavi for her decades-long resistance against the Islamic Republic, describing her efforts as ‘freedom fighting of the highest order.’

As tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate, Pompeo’s remarks underscore the potential for significant geopolitical shifts in the Middle East. The coming months will test the resilience of Iran’s regime and the effectiveness of Trump’s renewed pressure campaign.