NYT: Trump is told Iranian regime is at its weakest point since the revolution

President of the United States Donald Trump has received numerous intelligence reports indicating a weakening of the Iranian government. This was reported by the newspaper The New York Times with reference to unnamed interlocutors familiar with the matter.

Intelligence reports indicate that Iran's government is in its weakest position since the overthrow of the Shah during the 1979 revolution. The protests that erupted late last year have shaken some elements of the Iranian government, especially in areas of the country that officials believe were strongholds of support for the supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Although the protests have subsided, the government is still in a difficult position. Intelligence reports have repeatedly pointed out that Iran's economy is very weak.

As the protests spread in January, the Iranian government found that it had little ability to alleviate the population's financial difficulties. Officials resorted to harsh repression, which further alienated a large part of the population.

At the same time, the US military is building up its forces in the region, but it is unclear what steps the Trump administration might take.

"President Trump is constantly being briefed on intelligence around the world. It would be a dereliction of duty as commander-in-chief if he did not receive regular briefings on these issues. On Iran, President Trump continues to monitor the situation closely," said White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt.

The US President has warned that he may strike Iran as the crackdown on protesters continues. However, his advisors are divided on the advisability of strikes, especially if they are symbolic strikes against elements of the government involved in suppressing the protests.

As of Monday, the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by three warships equipped with Tomahawk missiles, entered the area of responsibility of the US Central Command in the western Indian Ocean, an unnamed US official said.

If the White House ordered a strike on Iran, the aircraft carrier could theoretically take action within one to two days, military officials said.

The interlocutors added that the United States has already sent F-15E attack aircraft to the region to strengthen its strike force. The Pentagon has also sent additional Patriot and THAAD air defense systems to the region to protect U.S. troops from retaliatory strikes.

US-based long-range bombers capable of striking targets in Iran remain on high alert. The Pentagon raised the level of combat readiness two weeks ago when Trump requested options for responding to the suppression of protests in the country.

In recent days, Pentagon officials have also stepped up consultations with regional allies. Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of Central Command, visited Syria, Iraq and Israel over the weekend to hold meetings with U.S. military officers and counterparts in these countries.

In addition to conversations with Israeli officials and meetings in Baghdad, representatives of the Trump administration held talks with Saudi and Qatari officials, a U.S. official said.

• January 2, 2026 Trump promised to interveneif the Iranian authorities use force to suppress protests caused by economic problems.
• Axios wrote that the U.S. military was ready on Trump's order to strike Iran, but it never came.
• On January 26, the US president said that the situation with Iran is changing, as he has sent a "great armada," but the politician believes that Tehran really wants to make a deal.