Trump Signals Iran Regime Change as U.S. Sends Second Carrier to Middle East

U.S. President Donald Trump intensified rhetoric against Tehran on Friday, raising the prospect of regime change while confirming that a second U.S. aircraft carrier group is heading to the Middle East. The remarks came after Trump visited troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and amid stalled diplomatic contacts with Iranian intermediaries.

Regime Change Back on the Table

Asked directly whether he wants regime change in Iran, Trump replied that “it seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” arguing that Iran’s clerical leadership has been “talking and talking” for 47 years without meaningful action.

The comments were widely interpreted as a direct challenge to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, signaling that Washington may be looking beyond nuclear constraints toward structural political change in Tehran.

The statement contrasts with the more cautious tone struck last month by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told lawmakers that any power transition in Iran would be “far more complex” than efforts to unseat Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, noting the Iranian regime’s decades-long entrenchment.

Second Carrier Group Signals Military Readiness

Trump confirmed that the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is being redeployed from the Caribbean to the Middle East. The vessel will join existing U.S. naval and air assets already positioned in the region.

“In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,” Trump told reporters, adding that the carrier would depart “very soon.” The move underscores that Washington is pairing diplomatic messaging with visible military deterrence.

Gulf Arab states have warned privately that any direct U.S.-Iran confrontation could spiral into a broader regional conflict, particularly as tensions remain high following the Gaza war.

Zero Enrichment and Broader Demands

Trump reiterated that the United States seeks a deal but warned that failure to reach one would be “very traumatic.” He was unequivocal on enrichment: “We don’t want any enrichment,” he said, signaling a maximalist position.

Before last year’s conflict, Iran had enriched uranium to 60 percent purity — a short technical step from weapons-grade levels — while maintaining that its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes. Trump claimed previous U.S. strikes had “obliterated” Iranian nuclear facilities, though he suggested remaining targets could still be addressed if necessary.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited Washington this week, has reportedly pressed for any future agreement to also curb Iran’s ballistic missile program and halt support for proxy groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Trump indicated that neutralizing nuclear capabilities would be “the least of the mission,” implying broader strategic objectives.

Diplomacy in Limbo

Although Trump previously hinted that new talks could take place this week, negotiations did not materialize. Instead, a senior Iranian security official traveled to Oman and Qatar, where messages were reportedly exchanged with U.S. intermediaries.

Trump framed the path forward in transactional terms: “Give us the deal that they should have given us the first time. They give us the right deal, we won’t do that,” he said, referring to the possibility of military action.

With domestic unrest rising inside Iran including 40 day mourning ceremonies for those killed during last month’s crackdown on protests Tehran faces mounting internal and external pressure. Meanwhile, Washington’s dual-track strategy of diplomacy backed by force appears to be entering a more confrontational phase.