In a significant escalation of transatlantic rhetoric, US President Donald Trump has explicitly stated that a change of government in Tehran would be the “best path forward.” This pronouncement comes amid a heightened military build-up in the Middle East, with Washington deploying a second aircraft carrier to the region to exert “maximum pressure” on the Islamic Republic.
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Escalating Military Posture
Speaking to reporters at the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina on Friday, President Trump was asked directly whether he sought the overthrow of the Iranian leadership. “I think that would be the best thing,” Trump replied, marking his most overt call to date for the removal of Iran’s clerical establishment.
This shift in tone coincide with the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest and most advanced warship. The carrier, which had recently been stationed in the Caribbean during US operations in Venezuela, is now bound for Middle Eastern waters to join the USS Abraham Lincoln.
“If we cannot reach a deal to curb their nuclear ambitions, this is exactly what we will need,” Trump remarked at the White House, referring to the carrier strike groups.
Domestic Turmoil and Economic Warfare
The push for regime change is bolstered by internal instability within Iran. Since late December, the country has been rocked by widespread protests triggered by a collapsing economy and skyrocketing inflation. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently hinted that Washington strategically engineered a dollar shortage in the Iranian market, causing the Rial to plummet to historic lows.
| Key Event | Impact on Iran |
| Rial Devaluation | Record lows against the USD; sparked mass protests. |
| Civil Unrest | Thousands reportedly killed in state crackdowns. |
| Nuclear Standoff | Stalemate in Oman talks regarding uranium enrichment. |
| Military Build-up | Deployment of two US Carrier Strike Groups to the region. |
Strategic Preparations for Conflict
While diplomatic channels remain open—with recent mediated talks in Muscat, Oman—US military officials have confirmed they are preparing for a potential campaign. Two senior officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to Reuters, revealed that the Pentagon has drafted plans for a multi-week military operation. They warned that if Trump gives the order, the ensuing conflict would be “far more severe” than any previous skirmish between the two nations.
The Shadow of the Monarchy
As the protests simmer, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran, has called for “humanitarian intervention” at the Munich Security Conference. Pahlavi is urging the international community to protect civilians and is calling for a unified movement to replace the current theocracy. While Trump declined to name a specific successor for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he pointedly remarked, “There are people ready.”
The situation remains volatile. While Trump previously warned that a sudden collapse of the Iranian government could lead to regional chaos, his current trajectory suggests he is now willing to gamble on a total overhaul of the Tehran administration to end the nuclear deadlock once and for all.