Trump says regime change in Iran could be ‘best outcome’ as second US carrier deploys to region

WEBD ESK: US President Donald Trump said on Friday that a change in Iran’s leadership could be “the best thing that could happen,” as the Pentagon ordered a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East amid rising tensions.

Speaking after a military event at Fort Bragg, Trump suggested that Tehran had failed to resolve long-running disputes through dialogue, according to AFP. “For 47 years, they’ve been talking,” he said, criticising Iran’s leadership and pointing to the human cost of regional conflicts over the years.

When asked directly whether he favoured regime change in Iran, Trump replied that it “seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” but declined to name any preferred successor, saying only that “there are people.”

His remarks came as Washington and Tehran explore the possibility of renewed diplomatic engagement over Iran’s nuclear programme. A source familiar with the discussions said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to hold talks with Iranian representatives in Geneva on Tuesday, with Omani officials serving as intermediaries. The envoys are also scheduled to meet Russian and Ukrainian officials in the Swiss city as part of efforts to address the war in Ukraine.

U.S. demands broader terms in Iran Nuclear talks

The United States has said any new nuclear agreement should address not only Iran’s atomic activities but also its ballistic missile programme and support for armed groups in the region. Tehran has indicated it is open to discussing limits on its nuclear work in exchange for sanctions relief, but has rejected linking the negotiations to its missile capabilities.

Trump has previously warned that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails, while Iranian officials have threatened retaliation in the event of an attack, fuelling concerns about a broader regional conflict. The United States carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last year.

Asked what remained to be targeted at those sites, Trump responded bluntly: “The dust,” adding that any further action would aim to deal with what was left.

Second carrier heads to Middle East

US officials said the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will deploy to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln along with guided-missile destroyers, fighter aircraft and surveillance assets already moved to the region in recent weeks.

Earlier on Friday, Trump said the additional carrier was being sent as a precaution. “In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,” he said. “If we need it, we’ll have it ready.”

One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it would take at least a week for the carrier strike group to reach the Middle East.

The Ford the newest and largest carrier in the US fleet had been operating in the Caribbean after initially being slated for deployment to Europe. It participated in operations near Venezuela earlier this year. With only 11 aircraft carriers in service, such vessels are considered high-value assets and are typically scheduled well in advance.

Carrier deployments generally last about nine months, though they can be extended during periods of heightened military activity. Navy officials have previously cautioned that prolonged time at sea can strain personnel and affect morale.

The Ford is powered by nuclear reactors and can carry more than 75 aircraft, including F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets and E-2 Hawkeye early warning planes. Its accompanying vessels include a guided missile cruiser and several destroyers equipped for air defence, surface warfare and anti-submarine operations.

US Southern Command said in a statement that it would continue to focus on countering illicit activities and hostile actors in the Western Hemisphere despite the carrier’s redeployment.