US President Donald Trump has made his strongest call yet for regime change in Iran, declaring that a change of government would be “the best thing that could happen” as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate.
Speaking to reporters at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Trump was asked directly about his stance on Iran’s leadership. “Seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” he said, though he did not specify who he thought should replace the current regime. “There are people,” he added, leaving his preferred successor unnamed.
Trump’s remarks come as the US ramps up military pressure on Iran. He confirmed the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, will soon head to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln and other US naval forces already stationed in the region. “In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,” Trump said, referencing ongoing attempts to reach a new agreement over Iran’s nuclear program.
The United States and Iran, whose relations have been frozen since the 1979 revolution, recently held indirect nuclear talks in Oman. While Trump has left the door open for negotiations, he warned that failing to reach a deal could have “very traumatic” consequences.
Meanwhile, ongoing unrest within Iran adds volatility to the crisis. Rights groups report thousands killed and tens of thousands arrested during recent crackdowns on anti-government protests. At the Munich Security Conference, exiled opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, renewed his plea for humanitarian intervention to protect demonstrators.
Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, said that while an agreement on inspections with Iran is still possible, it remains “terribly difficult.”
With diplomacy and military posturing both in play, the US-Iran standoff is entering one of its most volatile phases in recent years, with the world watching closely for the next move.
