By Isabella Torregiani
1:04pm PDT, Jun 24, 2025
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President
Donald Trump's administration appears divided over whether the U.S. is actively pursuing regime change in Iran.
Just hours after several of Trump's top cabinet members emphasized that recent U.S. airstrikes were solely aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities, the president seemed to suggest otherwise.
Keep reading for Trump's latest comments on Iran… MORE:
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On Sunday, June 22, President Donald Trump took to
Truth Social to share his thoughts on Iran's future: "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!!!" he wrote.
His comments came less than 24 hours after the U.S. launched a surprise attack on three nuclear facilities in Iran: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
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Prior to President Donald Trump's statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that the administration was seeking a regime change.
Speaking on Face the Nation on Sunday June 22, Rubio insisted that the U.S. had no interest in removing Iran's leadership.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared that sentiment earlier that day at a Pentagon briefing, saying the operation "is most certainly not open-ended."
He added that President Trump had given him "a focused, powerful and clear mission" regarding overnight strikes.
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Despite mixed messages from his administration, President Donald Trump made one thing clear: If Iran retaliates, the U.S. will respond.
"ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT. THANK YOU! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES," he wrote in the late evening on Sunday, June 22.
In response, Iran is now weighing its options. On Monday, June 23, Iranian armed forces chief Abdolrahim Mousavi reportedly accused the U.S. of violating Iran's sovereignty by striking its three nuclear sites: "The criminal U.S. must know that in addition to punishing its illegitimate and aggressive offspring, the hands of Islam's fighters within the armed forces have been freed to take any action against its interests and military, and we will never back down in this regard," he said.
