Washington D.C. – A divergence in messaging from the White House regarding potential regime change in Iran has emerged, coinciding with heightened military posturing in the region and ongoing diplomatic efforts to revive stalled nuclear talks. President Donald Trump on Friday indicated that a change in leadership in Tehran “would be the best thing that could happen,” while simultaneously confirming the deployment of a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East.
Speaking after a visit with troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, , Trump referenced decades of fruitless negotiations with Iranian clerical rulers. “For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking,” he stated, adding a stark description of the human cost of regional conflicts attributed to Iranian actions. “In the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk. Legs blown off, arms blown off, faces blown off. We’ve been going on for a long time.”
When pressed for specifics on who might replace the current Iranian government, Trump declined to elaborate, stating only that “Notice people.” This statement contrasts with earlier comments from Vice President JD Vance, who earlier this week suggested the administration was not actively pursuing regime change, framing any such shift as a decision for the Iranian people themselves. “If the Iranian people want to overthrow the regime, that’s up to the Iranian people,” Vance said, emphasizing the administration’s focus on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
The apparent contradiction in messaging follows a period of fluctuating US policy towards Iran. Trump had previously called on protesters to “take over” government institutions during widespread demonstrations in Iran, and reportedly requested military options for potentially toppling the government. However, Washington subsequently entered negotiations with Iran, with a second round of talks scheduled in Geneva next week.
A source briefed on the matter revealed that a US delegation, including envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will meet with Iranian representatives on , with Oman serving as a mediator. Following this meeting, Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to participate in trilateral talks with representatives from Russia and Ukraine.
Trump’s latest remarks were accompanied by a warning regarding the potential for military action. He described the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, as a demonstration of US resolve. “If we don’t have a deal, we’ll need it; if we have a deal, we could cut it short — it’ll be leaving very soon,” he said. The Ford is en route to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, already stationed in the Arabian Sea amid Trump’s threats to strike Iran if it does not halt its nuclear program and support for regional proxies.
“Sometimes you have to have fear. That’s the only thing that really will get the situation taken care of,” Trump added, speaking to troops at Fort Bragg. He also referenced a US strike on Iranian nuclear sites on , during the Israel-Iran war, which he claimed brought a previous round of US-Iran nuclear talks to an end.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but has enriched uranium to levels that raise concerns and has obstructed international inspections. Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, stated on , that reaching an accord with Iran on inspections is “terribly difficult,” despite the return of agency inspectors following the recent conflict. He noted that inspectors have not yet been granted access to sites targeted during the war.
The current round of indirect US-Iran talks, facilitated by Oman, reportedly allowed Tehran to assess Washington’s commitment to diplomacy. A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry indicated that the talks revealed sufficient common ground to continue negotiations. The date and location of the next round of talks remain unconfirmed.
Iran has resisted US demands to broaden the scope of negotiations to include its ballistic missile program and support for regional proxy forces. Trump has repeatedly threatened military action if Iran does not agree to address all three issues.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following a meeting with Trump at the White House, emphasized the need for any agreement with Iran to encompass not only the nuclear issue but also ballistic missiles and regional proxies. He expressed skepticism about the prospects for a deal, but acknowledged Trump’s belief that a “good deal” might be achievable.
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic efforts proceeding alongside a visible military buildup. The conflicting signals from Washington underscore the complexities of US policy towards Iran, as it seeks to balance the desire for a diplomatic resolution with the threat of force.
