Trump: Regime change in Iran would be the best thing that could happen

US President Donald Trump has said that regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen,”

US President Donald Trump has said that regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen,” while confirming that a second American aircraft carrier is being deployed to the Middle East in case negotiations with Tehran fail.

Speaking to reporters after visiting troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Trump expressed frustration with Iran’s leadership, saying decades of talks had produced little progress. He declined to specify who he would want to replace Iran’s clerical rulers but said “there are people.”

His remarks appeared to diverge from comments made earlier this week by Vice President JD Vance, who suggested the administration was not actively pursuing regime change. Vance said that if the Iranian people chose to overthrow their government, that would be their decision, but stressed that the administration’s priority was preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Trump also confirmed that the USS Gerald R. Ford — the world’s largest aircraft carrier — is being sent to the region to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been operating in the Arabian Sea. The move significantly increases US naval firepower in proximity to Iran.

“If we don’t have a deal, we’ll need it,” Trump said of the deployment, adding that “sometimes you have to have fear” to secure an agreement.

The military buildup comes as Washington and Tehran prepare for a second round of nuclear talks, reportedly scheduled for next week in Geneva. Oman, which hosted the initial round in Muscat, is expected to continue mediating indirect contacts between the two sides.

Trump has repeatedly threatened military action if Iran refuses a deal that would require it to abandon its ability to produce a nuclear weapon, roll back its ballistic missile program, and halt support for armed proxy groups across the region.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, though it has enriched uranium to levels beyond typical civilian requirements and has limited access for international inspectors. Rafael Grossi, head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, recently described negotiations over inspections as possible but “terribly difficult,” noting that inspectors have not yet revisited several sites targeted in previous strikes.

The renewed pressure follows a brief but intense 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran earlier this year, which disrupted earlier US-Iran negotiations.

Tehran has so far refused to expand nuclear talks to include its missile program or regional activities, a sticking point that could determine whether diplomacy advances — or collapses.

For now, Washington appears to be pursuing a dual-track strategy: negotiations backed by visible military deterrence. Whether that approach compels compromise or hardens positions on both sides remains uncertain.

Key Takeaways

• Trump says regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen.”

• A second US aircraft carrier is being deployed to the Middle East.

• The administration is preparing for another round of nuclear talks with Iran.

• Vice President JD Vance signaled regime change is not official policy.

• Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons but continues high-level uranium enrichment.

• Diplomacy is continuing — but under mounting military pressure.

If you’d like, I can now provide a strong geopolitical headline — measured or dramatic.

SOURCE: THE TIMES OF ISRAEL