Trump leaning toward Venezuela-style regime change in Iran, says AEI's Michael Rubin

Rubin discusses Trump's goal of "regime change" and bringing Iran "back from the brink of destruction," while acknowledging the US capability to win militarily. Even if the US avoids direct invasion, a "Venezuela-style" collapse or civil war in Iran creates massive regional instability. Neighboring US allies (Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE) will likely accelerate defense procurement to secure their borders against spillover violence or desperate lashes out by the IRGC. This benefits US defense prime contractors. LONG Defense and Aerospace as a geopolitical hedge. A sudden diplomatic breakthrough or a strictly internal, non-violent transition would reduce the risk premium in defense stocks.

Rubin states Trump is leaning toward a "Venezuela model" of regime change and notes that the "chance of a civil war inside Iran is very, very high." The "Venezuela model" implies maximum sanctions and economic isolation, which historically decimated Venezuela's oil output. If applied to Iran (a major OPEC producer), combined with the physical infrastructure risks of a civil war, global oil supply faces a significant shock. Reduced supply with constant demand drives crude prices higher. LONG oil exposure via futures (USO) or major integrated producers (CVX/XLE) to hedge against supply disruption. If the regime collapses peacefully and quickly, sanctions could be lifted, flooding the market with Iranian oil.