While diplomats shuttle between capitals trying to salvage Iran nuclear talks, a former top military adviser to President Donald Trump is saying the quiet part out loud: he thinks a major military strike is coming, and it could bring down Tehran's government entirely.

More Than Just Another Strike

Retired four-star Gen. Jack Keane, who served as Army vice chief of staff and regularly advises Trump, laid out his assessment in a radio interview on The Cats Roundtable that aired Sunday. "Obviously, the president has yet to make the decision about that military option, but obviously, we can see what's taking place," Keane said. "And in my mind, I believe that decision will eventually be made."

This wouldn't be a surgical strike like last year's "Midnight Hammer" operation that hit nuclear facilities in a single night. Keane warned that any future campaign would be "much larger," targeting Iran's civilian and military leadership, critical infrastructure, and ballistic missile forces. He suggested US forces working alongside Israel could mount something "quite formidable" that puts the Islamic Republic "on a pathway to regime collapse," giving Washington "significant leverage" over whatever weakened government remains.

The Pentagon Is Getting Ready

Keane's comments aren't just speculation. According to Reuters, the Pentagon is quietly preparing for the possibility of weeks-long operations against Iran if Trump gives the order. US officials described planning that goes well beyond anything attempted previously.

Meanwhile, diplomacy is still technically alive. Indirect talks in Oman earlier this month focusing on Iran's nuclear program were called a "good start" by both sides, though major gaps remain. Washington wants Tehran to halt uranium enrichment entirely. Iran has made clear that's not happening.

Talking Peace, Sending Carriers

Trump himself is keeping all options visible. On Friday, he said he still hopes for a negotiated deal while simultaneously announcing that the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, and its escorts are heading to the Middle East to join other US warships already positioned off Iran's coast. "I think they'll be successful. And if they're not, it's going to be a bad day for Iran, very bad," he told reporters at the White House.

According to the Associated Press, Swiss officials confirmed Saturday that the United States and Iran will hold a second round of Oman-mediated, indirect talks in Geneva next week. So the conversation continues, even as the military hardware piles up and senior generals predict what comes if it fails.