US warns of potential regime change in Iran
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned Tehran that President Trump would “take action” if nuclear diplomacy fails. US President Donald Trump is ready to take military action against Iran and may resort to threats against Tehran if efforts...
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned Tehran that President Trump would “take action” if nuclear diplomacy fails.
US President Donald Trump is ready to take military action against Iran and may resort to threats against Tehran if efforts to renew discussions about the country's nuclear program do not succeed, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated.
During his previous term, Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was designed to promote dialogue on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and imposed sanctions on Tehran. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has called on the Islamic Republic to reopen negotiations, reportedly giving Tehran a two-month deadline to reach a new agreement with Washington.
In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday, Rubio noted that while the US is still pursuing diplomatic avenues, it is prepared to take action if Iran continues its nuclear advancements.
”If you asked [Trump], he would tell you he would much prefer to work this out diplomatically without a war,” Rubio said. “But if he has to take action to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear capability, he will. We have the ability to do that and to go further, perhaps even threaten the regime.”
Earlier this month, Trump confirmed that he had sent a letter to Iran’s leadership proposing new discussions. This letter, reportedly delivered via United Arab Emirates President Mohammed Bin Zayed, is currently under review in Tehran.
However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed the notion of renewed negotiations, criticizing the US proposal as an effort to “exert their dominance and impose what they want” rather than “solving issues.” He also rejected Trump’s threats of military force.
Khamenei previously stated that accusations against Iran regarding its alleged failure to adhere to the deal are “fundamentally flawed when divorced from the full context of the US withdrawal.” Tehran has consistently denied ambitions to develop nuclear weapons, asserting that its nuclear program is peaceful.
Following Washington’s exit from the JCPOA, Tehran has reportedly reduced its compliance with the 2015 agreement. In December 2024, Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, claimed that Iran was “dramatically” accelerating its uranium enrichment, describing the situation as “very concerning.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this article for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump is ready to take military action against Iran and may resort to threats against Tehran if efforts to renew discussions about the country's nuclear program do not succeed, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated.
During his previous term, Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was designed to promote dialogue on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and imposed sanctions on Tehran. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has called on the Islamic Republic to reopen negotiations, reportedly giving Tehran a two-month deadline to reach a new agreement with Washington.
In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday, Rubio noted that while the US is still pursuing diplomatic avenues, it is prepared to take action if Iran continues its nuclear advancements.
”If you asked [Trump], he would tell you he would much prefer to work this out diplomatically without a war,” Rubio said. “But if he has to take action to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear capability, he will. We have the ability to do that and to go further, perhaps even threaten the regime.”
Earlier this month, Trump confirmed that he had sent a letter to Iran’s leadership proposing new discussions. This letter, reportedly delivered via United Arab Emirates President Mohammed Bin Zayed, is currently under review in Tehran.
However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed the notion of renewed negotiations, criticizing the US proposal as an effort to “exert their dominance and impose what they want” rather than “solving issues.” He also rejected Trump’s threats of military force.
Khamenei previously stated that accusations against Iran regarding its alleged failure to adhere to the deal are “fundamentally flawed when divorced from the full context of the US withdrawal.” Tehran has consistently denied ambitions to develop nuclear weapons, asserting that its nuclear program is peaceful.
Following Washington’s exit from the JCPOA, Tehran has reportedly reduced its compliance with the 2015 agreement. In December 2024, Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, claimed that Iran was “dramatically” accelerating its uranium enrichment, describing the situation as “very concerning.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this article for TROIB News
