Trump Calls for Regime Change in Iran, Confirms New US Armada

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US President Donald Trump has called for regime change in Iran, saying it would be the 'best thing that could happen' in the country. Trump also confirmed that a second US aircraft carrier would soon join a 'massive' American armada in the Arabian Sea amid high tensions between the US and Iran. The comments come as the two countries remain locked in indirect talks over Iran's nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon, while Tehran insists is for civilian purposes only.

Why it matters

Trump's comments represent his most direct call yet for the fall of Iran's hard-line clerical regime, signaling a potential escalation in the long-running tensions between the US and Iran. The deployment of additional US naval forces to the region also raises the prospect of potential military confrontation between the two adversaries.

The details

Trump told reporters that 'for 47 years, they've been talking and talking and talking' with Iran, adding that 'in the meantime, we've lost a lot of lives while they talk.' He did not specify who he would like to see take over should the Iranian government fall, only saying 'there are people.' The US and Iran have not had diplomatic relations since 1980, following the Islamic Revolution that saw clerics loyal to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khamenei overthrow the US-backed shah. Washington and Tehran have been involved in indirect talks over Iran's nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon.

• On February 13, 2026, Trump made the comments about regime change in Iran during a visit to a military base in North Carolina.
• Trump also confirmed that a second US aircraft carrier would soon join a 'massive' American armada in the Arabian Sea.

What they’re saying

What’s next

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