Washington, United States. US President Donald Trump said regime change in Iran is “the best thing that could happen,” in one of his clearest endorsements of replacing Iran’s clerical establishment. His remarks came as the United States prepared to deploy a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East to increase pressure on Iran to secure a nuclear deal.
Trump comments on leadership in Iran
Trump said on Friday that Iran’s leaders had been “talking and talking and talking” for 47 years, adding that “in the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives.” He declined to specify who he wants to lead Iran, but said “there are people” who could take over.
Iran’s clerical ruler, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had not responded to Trump’s latest remarks.
Second aircraft carrier to relocate to the Middle East
Trump said the USS Gerald R Ford, described as the world’s largest warship and the newest US aircraft carrier, is set to relocate “very soon” from the Caribbean to the Middle East.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump shared an aerial photograph of the carrier that appeared to show it in transit to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is already stationed in the Middle East.
Background and nuclear talks
The Pentagon sent the USS Abraham Lincoln in January after the United States threatened to strike Iran to stop a government crackdown on mass protests in which thousands of people were killed.
The demonstrations were among the most dramatic upheavals in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, which installed the clerical system led by a Supreme Leader.
Trump has threatened strikes on Iran if no nuclear agreement can be reached, but after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday at the White House, he said talks with Tehran would continue.
Speaking at Fort Bragg on Friday evening, Trump said Iran should “give us a deal that they should have given us the first time” when asked what Iran should do to avoid an attack.
What do you think the deployment of a second US aircraft carrier signals about Washington’s approach to Iran?
