Former IDF officer: US has shifted from Iran nuclear deal to regime-collapse strategy

Or Horvitz, a former IDF officer and senior fellow at JPPI, stated on The Deep Dive podcast that the US has shifted its strategy from securing a nuclear deal with Iran to actively seeking the collapse of the Iranian regime. Horvitz argues that "Any negotiation with this regime is pointless" due to its hawkish nature and unwillingness to compromise on its core interests. He noted that the US has returned to a "maximum pressure" campaign, similar to Ronald Reagan's approach to the Soviet Union, with both factions within the US administration now aligned behind escalating economic pressure. While acknowledging that toppling the regime would be a "matter of time" rather than a certainty, Horvitz warned that a cornered Tehran could become more prone to irrational strikes. He also suggested that Iran's economic weakening presents a "historic" opportunity against Hezbollah, but cautioned about the potential rise of Sunni jihadist groups in a power vacuum.