Trump talks about possible regime change in Iran after US bombings

US President Donald Trump hinted on Monday that he might welcome the overthrow of the government in Tehran, just hours after members of his administration insisted that recent attacks on Iran were not intended to bring about "regime change".

“It is not politically acceptable to use the term 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why not have a regime change??? MIGA!!!” Trump wrote on his platform, Truth Social.

Trump's remarks came just hours after key figures in his administration, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, stressed that the goal of the US airstrikes on June 21 on Iran's nuclear facilities was a negotiated solution, not the overthrow of the theocratic Islamic government.

In a press conference, Hegseth described the bombings as a "precision operation," targeting only Iran's nuclear program, and not Iranian soldiers or people.

"This mission was not, and is not, about regime change," he said.

Trump "seeks peace, and Iran should follow that path," Hegseth added, further emphasizing: "A negotiated agreement needs to be reached here."

"The Iranian regime needs to wake up and say, 'OK, if we really want nuclear energy in our country, there's a way to do it.' That offer is still in effect. We're ready to talk to them tomorrow and start working on it," Rubio told the US network CBS.

However, some members of Trump's Republican Party have called in the past for the overthrow of the Iranian government, including influential Texas senator Ted Cruz.

"I'm advocating that we use maximum pressure and economic sanctions to put pressure on the regime in a way that can lead to its collapse," he said before the US attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities.

US officials warned Tehran on Sunday not to retaliate against US airstrikes, which Trump said had "destroyed" key Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iran and Israel launched new rounds of airstrikes against each other in the early hours of Monday morning.

Iran ignored immediate calls to return to talks, emphasizing the right to self-defense, saying the United States would be held responsible for the "dangerous consequences" of its actions and hinting that talks could only happen after Tehran responds.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said at a press conference in Istanbul that the "door of diplomacy" should always be open, but "it is not like that now."

Iran is being attacked and will exercise the right of self-defense for as long as necessary, he added, but declined to say what actions Iran would take in response to the US attacks.

Iranian state media reported that Araqchi arrived in Moscow for consultations on Monday with senior leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose offer to help mediate negotiations with Tehran was immediately rejected by Trump.

"Russia is our partner and we always consult," Araqchi said before arriving in Moscow.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is "very, very close" to achieving its goals after more than a week of air strikes on Iran, including eliminating Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile threats.

"We are moving step by step towards achieving these goals, we are very, very close to fulfilling them," Netanyahu said at a press conference.

He added that "when the objectives have been met, the operation will end."

Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran on June 13, targeting nuclear and missile facilities, as well as military leaders and security services.

Many important military figures and nuclear scientists were killed in the attacks, Iran has admitted.

Since the launch of the initial Israeli attacks, the two countries have exchanged airstrikes on each other, causing casualties among both military and civilian ranks, as well as damage to property.

The Washington-based group, Activists for Human Rights, reported that at least 950 people have been killed in Iran during airstrikes since June 13, including 380 civilians.

Israeli authorities said 24 people were killed in Iranian attacks on Israel./ REL