A confidential report provided to President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, and shared with Fox News Digital, is urging decisive measures to counter Iran’s regime. The timing comes just days before Trump is set to take office for his second term, suggesting a potential pivot towards a harder stance on Tehran.

A Unique Opportunity for Strong Action

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, CEO and founder of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), emphasized this pivotal moment. “President-elect Trump now has a unique chance to push back against the regime at a critical moment of its decline,” he asserted. Wallace noted that by leveraging a combination of diplomatic, informational, military, and economic tools to hold Tehran accountable, Trump could foster regional stability and usher in a transformative chapter for the Middle East.

A Comprehensive Strategy to Confront Iran

The report, titled “A 100 Day Plan for the Incoming Trump Administration on Iran,” serves as a comprehensive roadmap for confronting Tehran. It outlines a multifaceted “whole-of-government” strategy advocating for collaboration with allies to intensify pressure on the Iranian regime.

Targeting Iran’s Regional Influence

Identified as the leading state sponsor of terrorism, Iran has long contributed to unrest and destabilization across the Middle East since the 1979 Revolution. Wallace pointed out that while promoting chaos in the region, the Iranian administration continues to suppress its own population with brutal impunity.

The report suggests that the Trump administration can reshape U.S. policy on Iran by enforcing targeted economic sanctions and utilizing strategic military power to deter aggressive actions. This, the authors argue, can be done without provoking an all-out conflict.

Evaluating Tehran’s Vulnerabilities

Jason Brodsky, policy director at UANI and co-author of the report, offered insights into the current strategic landscape, noting that Tehran is already apprehensive about Trump’s anticipated hardline policies. “This nervousness creates a strategic opening,” Brodsky stated, advocating for caution against premature diplomatic overtures that could weaken the United States’ position. “Rushing into talks now risks undermining the leverage gained from Iran’s vulnerabilities.”

Learning from Israeli Tactics

The report urges the U.S. to adopt tactics from Israel’s military playbook, particularly in light of the recent Hamas attacks on October 7. Brodsky articulated that if Israel can conduct targeted military strikes against Iran-related assets without escalating into significant conflict, then the U.S. can do the same.

To demonstrate its resolve, the report recommends that President-elect Trump deliver a clear policy speech indicating America’s readiness to use military force if necessary to dismantle Iran’s nuclear ambitions. This comes in the wake of an alarming report from the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning Iran’s uranium enrichment activity, which is reaching potentially weaponizable levels.

Retaliation and Support for Defectors

The report advocates for direct U.S. military action in response to provocations from Iran and its proxies, including cyber operations and strikes targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other elements of the Iranian regime. The authors stress the importance of holding Tehran accountable for violent crackdowns on dissidents, referencing past incidents in which the regime brutally suppressed protests in 2009 and 2022.

Brodsky criticized the current focus of U.S. retaliation on Iranian proxies rather than directly confronting the regime, warning that this approach emboldens Tehran. “The Trump administration needs to reverse that calculation,” he asserted. Additionally, the report suggests enacting a military defector program aimed at promoting defections from the IRGC and other key components of Iran’s security apparatus, which could undermine the regime’s internal stability.

Shutting Down Tehran’s Revenue Streams

One of the report’s central themes is the need to disrupt Iran’s significant oil revenues, viewed as a critical enabler of its regional proxy network. The authors highlight a troubling increase in Iranian oil exports, which rose by nearly 11% in 2024, largely attributed to weakened sanctions enforcement under the Biden administration. Claire Jungman, co-author of the report and UANI’s chief of staff, pointed out that Iran’s oil exports have surged to nearly 2 million barrels per day, the highest in five years, largely due to billions of dollars in unfrozen assets.

The authors stress that the incoming Trump administration has a crucial opportunity to enact stringent measures that could reinstate maximum pressure and effectively stymie Tehran’s illicit revenue sources.

A Caution Against Endless Negotiations

An ongoing concern of the report is Iran’s support for various terrorist groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas. According to the State Department, Tehran allocates approximately 0 million annually to Hamas and around 0 million to Hezbollah, which perpetuates instability across the region. The authors warn that any prolonged negotiations risk emboldening Iran’s assertive actions, highlighting the need for a clear and resolute American stance in the face of these provocations.