To continue the analogy with the former USSR, the Cold War wasn't an effort in preparing to invade the Soviet Union either. The idea is to keep up the pressure and provide support to internal elements in order tip the balance toward some sort of popular revolution (hopefully a relatively peaceful one as did occur in the USSR when the Communists attempted a coup and were crushed by popular and military opposition).
The strategic flanking of Iran on all sides is similar to what we did to surround, isolate, contain, and pressurize the Soviet Union. It's a gamble but the alternative would be to let things stumble on toward armageddon.
Yes, you are "misreading this", just read some posts on this and other threads.
A free Iran is not a danger to any one and it will also make Mideast safer.