Former US President Donald J. Trump said Friday that a change in Iran’s leadership would be “the best thing that could happen,” as he increased military pressure on the country by deploying a second aircraft carrier to the region.
Speaking at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Trump did not name specific successors to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but he emphasized that alternatives exist within the country. The announcement marks his most direct endorsement yet of regime change in Tehran, amid ongoing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is set to join the USS Abraham Lincoln and 12 other US naval vessels already stationed in the Middle East. Trump said the move is intended to reinforce US leverage in nuclear negotiations with Iran, which continue without confirmed dates for future talks.
Meanwhile, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, Reza Pahlavi, called for international intervention following a violent crackdown on nationwide protests last month, which rights groups say resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests. Pahlavi urged support for demonstrators both inside Iran and abroad, highlighting ongoing human rights concerns.
Trump’s comments come after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who expressed skepticism about any agreement that does not also address Iran’s missile program and regional influence. The UN’s nuclear watchdog, led by Rafael Grossi, described reaching a comprehensive inspection deal as “terribly difficult” but still possible.
