by jerry fisayo-bambi  & AP
It’s published •update
US President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted at the possibility of an Iranian change of government, questioning the future of Iran’s ruling theocratic politics.
Trump’s social media jab in Iran’s administration came after he ordered a surprise attack on three nuclear sites.
“It is not politically correct to use the term “change of government,” but why is there no change of government if the current Iranian regime cannot make Iran great again? ” Trump posted on social media. “Miga!!!”
His comments seem to contradict the previous calls to Iran for negotiation and exclusion in the Israeli-Iran conflict.
Trump’s words also marked something like a reversal from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses’ Sunday morning press conference, detailing the air bombing. “This mission was not a change of government, and it wasn’t,” Heggs said.
Trump’s aides are playing our part in the conflict
Speaking about Fox News on Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that retaliation against the United States and rushing to build nuclear weapons would “put the Iranian regime at risk.”
Rubio explained that what the US administration has made clear is that it wants Iran to stop the development of nuclear weapons. But beyond that, the world is full of uncertainty at fragile moments, allowing us to decide whether a part of the planet will fall into war or find a way to save relative peace.
Vice President JD Vance also spoke at a news outlet. “We’re not in a war with Iran,” Vance told NBC. “We are fighting Iran’s nuclear program.”
He said the strike offers an opportunity to resume stagnant talks by cutting Iran’s nuclear program.
Despite efforts by senior Trump aides to clarify the situation and provide a coordinated message and strategy about US involvement and plans, Trump himself issued a series of intimidating statements, even as he called for negotiations to resume at the same time.
Analysts believe the message will make it difficult to fully read whether the US president is simply provoking his enemy or using inflammatory words that could expand the war between Israel and Iran that began earlier this month.
Before Trump posted on Sunday afternoon, coordinated messages from Trump’s Secretary of State, top military advisers, vice president and Pentagon directors demonstrated his belief that fallout is under control.
The Israeli-Iran conflict began on June 13 when Israel attacked Iran’s military infrastructure and killed the country’s intelligence chief Mohamad Kazemi and his deputy, Hassan Mohakik. Ten nuclear scientists were also killed.
Iran responded with ballistic missiles and drone attacks against Israel, but Iran’s military capabilities are believed to have been severely destroyed after an Israeli air campaign that took away most of Tehran’s air defense and missile launchers.
At least 950 people have been killed in Israel’s strike against Israel, according to figures from human rights activists, a Washington-based group, as Iran and 27 people died in a retaliatory strike against Israel.
