WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump raised the prospect of regime change in Iran on Sunday in a provocative social media post following devastating U.S. airstrikes on three major nuclear sites inside the Islamic Republic. The comment, made as senior American officials publicly disavowed any intent to topple Tehran’s government, signaled rising tensions amid fears of regional war.
“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 posted on his platform, invoking his “Make America Great Again” slogan.
The president’s message contradicted earlier statements from top U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who emphasized that the strikes were aimed strictly at Iran’s nuclear capabilities, not at destabilizing its regime.
“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” Hegseth said during a briefing at the Pentagon, describing the air campaign as “a precision operation” under the codename Operation Midnight Hammer.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Vance reiterated the administration’s stance. “We want to end their nuclear program, and then we want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement. We do not want boots on the ground,” he said.
The remarks came as the Pentagon confirmed the highly classified strike operation, involving seven B-2 bombers and over 125 military aircraft, executed with precision against the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. The attack included 75 precision-guided munitions, among them 14 bunker-buster bombs and dozens of Tomahawk missiles.
According to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, the bombing inflicted “extremely severe damage” to all three sites. Satellite images reportedly showed cratered terrain above Fordow, where the U.S. deployed 30,000-pound bombs to penetrate underground facilities.
However, questions remain about the status of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi confirmed strikes on the Fordow enrichment site but cautioned that it was “too early” to assess damage to underground operations.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that most of the highly enriched uranium stored at Fordow — including material enriched to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade — had been moved before the U.S. attack. The revelation could signal an effort by Tehran to preserve parts of its nuclear program or to hedge against anticipated escalation.
Trump’s comment and the operation itself mark a significant escalation in a region already beset by more than 20 months of warfare in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as instability in Syria. The airstrikes followed Israel’s earlier strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to launch a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israeli targets.
Senior U.S. officials warned Iran against further retaliation. “The response from Tehran will determine whether the U.S. conducts additional operations,” one Pentagon official said.
The success of Operation Midnight Hammer relied heavily on military secrecy. Few in Washington or at U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa were briefed in advance. B-2 bombers flew 18-hour round trips to deliver their payloads, using deception to mask their targets.
While Trump’s public suggestion of regime change may have been rhetorical, it has deepened unease among U.S. allies and adversaries alike. Officials across Europe and the Middle East continue to urge restraint, while Iran’s leadership has vowed to defend its sovereignty and people — warning of “all options” on the table in response.
The international community is now bracing for what comes next in a confrontation that has rapidly expanded from shadow warfare to open conflict.
