Indeed, the permanent bureaucracies and think tanks have advised all administrations:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7864/j.ctt6wpgvg

This is bipartisan. The long term goals were to start with Libya, Iraq, Syria and then Iran. The latter two required Russia to be tied up in another conflict.

They don't explicitly put Iran in their portfolio because for Reality TV it is better to be a peace lover.

Now, undoubtedly the Democrats will pretend to complain, but Schumer and Pelosi want this, too.

[I am expanding on your comment, not trying to contradict anything.]