United States President Donald Trump on Sunday publicly floated the possibility of regime change in Iran, just hours after authorizing a wave of airstrikes on three of the country’s nuclear facilities, further escalating tensions in the region.
“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??? MIGA!!!” Trump wrote on social media, invoking a modified version of his “Make America Great Again” slogan.
The remarks came after the U.S. carried out coordinated strikes early Sunday targeting Iran’s Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. The Pentagon said B-2 stealth bombers dropped bunker-buster bombs on the fortified Fordo facility, while submarine-launched cruise missiles struck the other two sites.
U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine confirmed that more than 125 American aircraft participated in the mission, including stealth bombers, fighter jets, refueling tankers, surveillance planes and a guided missile submarine.
The operation marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing hostilities that began June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple locations across Iran, including military and nuclear installations. Tehran responded with retaliatory missile attacks on Israeli territory.
Israeli officials say at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured in Iranian missile attacks. In Iran, at least 430 people have died and more than 3,500 have been wounded in Israeli strikes, according to the Iranian Health Ministry.