US officials see military and economic pressure on Iran sparking internal uprising

US officials say military and economic pressure on Iran could trigger an internal uprising or regime collapse, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent citing inflation and unpaid military salaries as potential catalysts. President Donald Trump has publicly urged Iranians to rise up and declined to rule out CIA support for anti-regime forces, while privately discussing whether to declare the military campaign over and rely on economic pressure to dismantle Iran's nuclear program. Vice President JD Vance is expected to address the Iran strategy at a White House press briefing Thursday, his first in months, amid ongoing US strikes and questions about Washington's transition from war to a pressure-based approach.