Main events on June 22nd
- US President Donald Trump hints at possible regime change in Tehran, a day after attacking Iran’s nuclear sites, saying in a social media post: “If the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why wouldn’t there be a regime change?”
- The Pentagon confirms it launched B-2 stealth bombers from the US to target the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites with 14 bunker-buster bombs, and some 75 precision-guided missiles.
- Israel continues attacks on Iran, carrying out another wave of air raids on Tehran and western parts of the country and claiming hits on missile launchers, satellite facilities and military radar sites.
- Iran is yet to reveal the extent of the damage caused to its nuclear facilities, or outline its full response. But it launched a fresh barrage of missiles into Israel that wounded dozens and flattened buildings in Tel Aviv.
- The UN security council has been meeting on the situation in Iran, with China, Russia and Pakistan urging a vote on a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
- Israel also continues its attacks on Gaza, killing at least 37 Palestinians across the Strip on Sunday, including eight people who were seeking food aid.
Trump and his top officials send mixed messages on ‘regime change’ in Iran
The White House has repeatedly denied the conflict was seeking to topple Iran’s government.
On Sunday, Vice President JD Vance maintained the US was “not at war with Iran, we’re at war with Iran’s nuclear programme”. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth told reporters that the “mission was not, and has not, been about regime change”.
But hours later, Trump appeared to contradict his top officials.
“It’s not politically correct to use the term, “Regime Change,” but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” Trump wrote on his social media platform.
“MIGA!!!” he added, using an apparent acronym for Make Iran Great Again, a play on his Make America Great Again (MAGA) slogan.
Regime changes, revolution and progress happen under prosperity, not under the strictest sanctions for over 4 decades. That only ensures those in power to stay in power.
Analysts have said that this could lead to instability as well as a security vacuum, but there are even broader questions about why the US president is suggesting the possibility of regime change, given his own Secretary of Defense, and his Vice President have said the mission was about the exact opposite.
Meantime, there are new details about that US operation. US media reporting that the president was in control, not the Pentagon, with a US official saying that this strike was not a pentagon operation. It was a Donald Trump operation. He chose the plans. He chose the day.
Now, given there has been the strike by the United States, there is now concern about retaliation by Iran, specifically given the fact that there are 40,000 troops based in the region, and there are also concerns about attacks here in the US, perhaps on infrastructure, like cyber attacks on the banking system or even on energy grids.
That is why many on Capitol Hill are now demanding an intelligence briefing, something they say should have happened prior to the president taking action.
