US Acknowledges Efforts to Alter Government in Iran
The US Secretary of State has recognized that Washington's 20-year efforts have not been successful. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has acknowledged the shortcomings of Washington's efforts over the past two decades to instigate regime change in Iran, admitting that these attempts have been unsuccessful.
While speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Wednesday, he addressed a query regarding whether the US should pursue a policy of regime change in Iran.
“I think if we look at the last 20 years, our experiments in regime change have not exactly been resounding successes,” Blinken remarked, prompting laughter from the audience.
He pointed to the lack of diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran since April 1980, when President Jimmy Carter ended ties with Iran following the 1979 hostage crisis, as a factor contributing to the failure to effect regime change.
Blinken characterized the dynamics within Iran as “complicated,” asserting that the US is “not the best source of a clear view on that” due to the prolonged disengagement. He noted that while the narrative opposing the Islamic Republic reflects “at least half the population,” it is “not as clear-cut as that.”
He also recognized the presence of a “very conservative element in Iran that’s significant in number that probably remains beholden to the regime.”
Addressing efforts to influence Iranian society, he conceded that such initiatives are challenging from an external perspective.
“What we’ve tried to do, at different points in time, is, to the best of our ability, further empower people inside Iran who want a different future for the country – to be able to communicate, to be able to stand up, to be able to have some resources to do that,” the secretary of state explained.
Furthermore, Blinken expressed concern that Tehran may be seriously contemplating the development of a nuclear weapon, particularly in light of rising tensions in the Middle East. He indicated that the incoming administration of President Donald Trump would need to engage with Tehran to prevent the acquisition of nuclear capabilities.
During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump withdrew from the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement aimed at curtailing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and implemented a “maximum pressure campaign.”
Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s transition team is exploring various options regarding Iran, including a potential direct strike on its nuclear sites.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
While speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Wednesday, he addressed a query regarding whether the US should pursue a policy of regime change in Iran.
“I think if we look at the last 20 years, our experiments in regime change have not exactly been resounding successes,” Blinken remarked, prompting laughter from the audience.
He pointed to the lack of diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran since April 1980, when President Jimmy Carter ended ties with Iran following the 1979 hostage crisis, as a factor contributing to the failure to effect regime change.
Blinken characterized the dynamics within Iran as “complicated,” asserting that the US is “not the best source of a clear view on that” due to the prolonged disengagement. He noted that while the narrative opposing the Islamic Republic reflects “at least half the population,” it is “not as clear-cut as that.”
He also recognized the presence of a “very conservative element in Iran that’s significant in number that probably remains beholden to the regime.”
Addressing efforts to influence Iranian society, he conceded that such initiatives are challenging from an external perspective.
“What we’ve tried to do, at different points in time, is, to the best of our ability, further empower people inside Iran who want a different future for the country – to be able to communicate, to be able to stand up, to be able to have some resources to do that,” the secretary of state explained.
Furthermore, Blinken expressed concern that Tehran may be seriously contemplating the development of a nuclear weapon, particularly in light of rising tensions in the Middle East. He indicated that the incoming administration of President Donald Trump would need to engage with Tehran to prevent the acquisition of nuclear capabilities.
During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump withdrew from the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement aimed at curtailing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and implemented a “maximum pressure campaign.”
Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s transition team is exploring various options regarding Iran, including a potential direct strike on its nuclear sites.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
