Politico: Iran Hawks Push Trump on Regime Change

There is a growing group of influential Iran hawks who will lobby President Donald Trump to push for a regime change in Tehran, a divergence from the Obama administration policy, according to Politico.

"The policy of the United States should be regime change in Iran – I don't see how anyone can say America can be safe as long as you have in power a theocratic despotism,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., told Politico.

As President Trump's administration formulates its policy, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, working with groups opposing Iran for "peaceful transition of that government" is possible.

The suggestion brought a tweetstorm from the foreign minister of Iran, concluding "US officials should worry more about saving their own regime than changing Iran's."

1|4 Before reverting to unlawful & delusional regime-change policy towards #Iran, US Administration should study and learn from history.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) June 15, 2017

2|4 The 1953 coup debacle & the 1979 Revolution proved that Iranian people are impervious to outside attempts to decide their destiny.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) June 15, 2017

3|4 After decades of failed regime change & sanctions, US had to apologize for '53 coup, and acknowledge diplomacy as the only option.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) June 15, 2017

4|4 For their own sake, US officials should worry more about saving their own regime than changing Iran’s, where 75% of people just voted.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) June 15, 2017

"Even the discussion of regime change is damaging, let alone a policy of regime change," Former deputy director of the CIA Michael Morell told Politico.

"A policy of regime change would be a huge strategic mistake."

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