US clarifies military strikes on Iran not for regime change

WASHINGTON: The United States (US) clarified that the recent military strikes on main Iranian nuclear facilities are not intended to initiate regime change in Iran, early on Sunday.

This communication follows a series of airstrikes by the US and Israel in early hours of Sunday targeting several cities across Iran.

Read more: Trump reveals the US attacked three nuclear sites in Iran

After announcing the attack, US President Donald Trump stated that Iran must now agree to end hostilities, framing the US military actions as essential for regional ‘stability’, despite Israel starting the current conflict by attacking Israel on June 13 in the middle of US-Iran talks.

In a call with Axios, Trump declared the operation a success, claiming that Israel was now ‘safer’ as a result of US involvement.

Earlier, Israeli officials expressed anger regarding US’ lack of action, with some bringing up the Fordow nuclear site, one of the three sites the US attacked.

As per Reuters, in a tense exchange, Israeli officials have warned that they may act independently if the US did not take decisive action within the two-week deadline set by Trump, reflecting growing impatience within the occupying regime about the pace of negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear programme.

Last week, the right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly called for a regime change in Iran; stating that the Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei needed to be killed.

In the early hours of Sunday, Israel had carried out strikes in  several cities across Iran. Reports of explosions in Iran’s north-western city Tabriz and near Tehran were reported. The Iranian state media confirmed these incidents.

Later, following the US attack, an official from the Iranian broadcasting cooperation stated that the nuclear sites targeted by the US did not contain materials that would cause radiation.

In response to the heightened threat level, the Israeli military said it had implemented safety restrictions, closing schools and workplaces except for essential sectors.

The roots of the Israel-Iran War can be traced back decades, characterised by mutual animosity and geopolitical rivalry. Iran’s nuclear programme has been a focal point of issue for Israel, despite being a known nuclear power itself, although it maintains silence.

Israel views Iran’s nuclear programme as an existential threat to itself. Iran is the latest target in a string of victims targeted and brutally bombarded by Israel, starting with the siege of Gaza in 2023 that has killed over 60,000 Gazans so far.

Israel would go on to target Hezbollah in Lebanon, destroyed Syrian military equipment following the Bashar al-Assad’s fall, and has carried out airstrikes in Iran since June 13 that has left 430 Iranians dead.

In the months leading up to June 2025, tensions escalated as the US set a two-month deadline for Iran to comply with nuclear obligations.

Read more: Reassessing alliances: Iran’s strategic dilemma amid espionage revelations

The UN nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported Iran’s non-compliance for the first time in 20 years.  

With the fragile US-Iran talks seeming to end on a positive note, Israel put any end to the deal by attacking Iran on June 13, killing its top military personnel and scientists, including lead negotiators.