US President Donald Trump has hailed the possibility of regime change in Iran — declaring on Friday that “tremendous power” will prevail in the Middle East. The remarks came even as the Pentagon sent a second air carrier to the region and the two countries held talks to revive diplomacy over Tehran’s nuclear program. Source-based reports suggested that Washington was also preparing for a ‘sustained, weeks-long operation’ against Iran if President Donald Trump ordered an attack.
“It seems like that would be the best thing that could happen…For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking. In the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk. Legs blown off, arms blown off, faces blown off. We’ve been going on for a long time,” Trump told reporters upon being asked if he wanted regime change in Iran.
The President sidestepped questions about who might succeed the regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — insisting that he did not “want to talk about it”. The POTUS reiterated that “there are people” without elaboration.
US military prepping for weeks-long Iran operation: Report
According to a Reuters report, the US military is preparing for the possibility of a sustained, weeks-long operation against Iran. Officials told the publication that the Pentagon was also sending thousands of additional troops, fighter jets and guided-missile destroyers — capable of waging attacks and defending American forces if Trump ordered an attack.
Planning reportedly remains underway for a ‘more complex’ strike following Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025. An official told Reuters that the US military could hit Iranian state and security facilities (not just nuclear infrastructure) in a sustained campaign. The Trump administration had used stealth bombers to lead a one-off strike against nuclear sites in the other country last year. Tehran had consequently staged a very limited retaliatory strike against an US base in Qatar.
US moves military assets to Middle East
The Pentagon deployed another carrier to join a growing arsenal in the Middle East on Friday as deal-making efforts continued between the two countries. Gerald R Ford — the newest US carrier and also the world’s largest — had been operating in the Caribbean with its escort ships and took part in operations in Venezuela earlier this year. It will now join he carrier Abraham Lincoln, several guided-missile destroyers, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft in the Middle East.
“In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it … if we need it, we’ll have it ready,” Trump reasoned in conversation with reporters.
The United States most recently had two aircraft carriers in the area last year, when it carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites in June. With only 11 aircraft carriers in its military arsenal, they are a scarce resource and their schedules are usually set well in advance.