President Donald Trump asked on Sunday why there “wouldn’t” be “regime change” in Iran if the country’s government isn’t able to “MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN.”
Why It Matters
Trump on Saturday evening announced what he described as a “very successful attack” against three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
U.S. officials said the attacks caused severe damage, but questions remain about the full extent of the damage and how much of a setback it is for Iran’s nuclear program.
The president’s decision came after Israel and Iran have exchanged consistent strikes since June 13. Israel had urged the U.S. to target Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying that Tehran was moving close to creating a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes—not for weapons.
The strikes have sparked concerns from some Democrats and some Republicans about a wider war breaking out—with some lawmakers accusing the president of violating the U.S. Constitution with the strikes.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the Trump administration for taking an offensive position in the conflict, which Israeli officials have strongly advocated for since Israel first ignited the war earlier this month. Iran, meanwhile, vowed to retaliate, accusing the U.S. of crossing “a very big red line” with its decision to pummel the three nuclear sites with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.
What To Know
Trump mused about the possibility of regime change in Iran on his social media website, Truth Social, on Sunday evening.
“It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” the president wrote. “MIGA!!!”
Trump’s comments came after multiple top Trump administration officials said that regime change was not the U.S.’s goal in targeting Iran’s three main nuclear facilities this weekend.
“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon on Sunday morning.
Vice President JD Vance told NBC News’ Kristen Welker in a Meet the Press interview on Sunday that the U.S. was not at war with Iran but rather with its nuclear program.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
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