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OPEN CHRONICLE | “The Truth in Every Detail”
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
BRUSSELS — European involvement in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran is “certainly a possibility,” former CIA Director and retired U.S. General David Petraeus told Euronews on Tuesday.
Speaking on the flagship morning program Europe Today, Petraeus suggested that while no initial assumptions were made regarding European boots on the ground, the rapidly shifting dynamics of the conflict have brought the topic to the discussion table in Western capitals.
A Defensive or Offensive Shift?
According to Petraeus, while France, Germany, and the UK have so far signaled a primarily defensive approach, the scope of the mission could expand.
“My understanding is that it has been discussed,” Petraeus said, referring to European nations potentially taking part in a more offensive capacity. “The fact that it’s being discussed indicates that it is certainly a possibility.”
The General emphasized that European participation would be “wise,” particularly in strengthening air and missile defenses. This urgency comes as Iranian retaliation moves beyond military targets, striking civilian infrastructure and reaching as far as UK sovereign bases in Cyprus.
“No Boots on the Ground”
Despite the intensity of the campaign following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Petraeus echoed the stance of the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, ruling out a large-scale land invasion.
“I think the President and the Secretary have been very clear that we’re not going to put boots on the ground,” he stated. He noted that while U.S. and allied casualties remain a “real possibility,” Iran’s ability to strike back is expected to diminish as its missile stockpiles and drone capabilities are systematically degraded.
A “Venezuela Scenario” for Tehran?
In a provocative comparison, Petraeus weighed in on the potential for political collapse within the Islamic Republic. When asked if the U.S. might aim for a transition similar to the recent shift in Venezuela—where the head of state was removed while the underlying administrative structure remained—he called the scenario “conceivable.”
Petraeus suggested that the Iranian elite may no longer be a monolith of hardline ideologues.
“The possibility is there that someone could emerge who might say, ‘What this nuclear program and the arming of proxies has brought us is ruin,'” Petraeus added.
A Rapid Succession
As the West watches for signs of internal fracturing, Tehran is moving quickly to project stability. Under the Islamic Republic’s constitution, contingency protocols have already been activated to designate a successor to Khamenei, aiming to close any power vacuum before the opposition or foreign interests can exploit it.