President Trump hints at possible regime change in Iran after US airstrikes, contradicting top officials and casting doubt on America’s diplomatic stance

Washington: A day after the United States launched a surprise aerial assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities, mixed signals emerged from Washington, leaving global observers questioning the Biden-Trump administration’s long-term intentions. While top officials insisted the operation was not aimed at toppling Iran’s government, President Donald Trump suggested otherwise, igniting confusion and diplomatic uncertainty.

Posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, “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???” Trump ended the post with a bold “MIGA!!!”, reviving a slogan that mirrored his earlier campaigns. The message sharply diverged from the tone set by current US officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had earlier said the strike was “not and has not been about regime change.”

Other key figures in the administration echoed that position. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine all emphasized that the mission was focused on stalling Iran’s nuclear ambitions, not removing its leadership. Vance said the operation might push Tehran back to the negotiating table and reaffirmed that the US still hoped for a diplomatic outcome.

However, Trump’s online post appeared to shift the tone dramatically, casting doubt on whether the US truly seeks de-escalation or is preparing for broader confrontation. The inconsistency has triggered unease among international allies and prompted questions about the real objectives of the US military campaign.

The strikes, carried out under the codename Operation Midnight Hammer, targeted key Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to General Caine, B-2 bombers deployed advanced deception tactics to hit the locations with precision, inflicting heavy damage while avoiding Iranian air defenses. “All three sites sustained extremely severe damage,” Caine confirmed, with Hegseth stating the goal was to “interrupt Iran’s progress toward nuclear weapon capability.”

Vice President Vance later told NBC that the strikes had “substantially delayed” Iran’s nuclear programme, estimating that it could now take years for Iran to recover.

From Ankara, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of international law and a grave escalation. “They crossed a very big red line by attacking nuclear facilities. I don’t know how much room is left for diplomacy,” he warned.