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In a major escalation of the standoff with Tehran, President Donald Trump stated on Friday, February 13, 2026, that “Iran Regime Change “would be the best thing that could happen.” The remarks, delivered to reporters following a visit with troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, coincide with a massive buildup of U.S. naval power in West Asia and a backdrop of unprecedented internal unrest within the Islamic Republic.

A “Massive Armada” Gathers

To underscore his rhetoric, President Trump confirmed the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, to the region. The Ford is currently transiting from the Caribbean, where it was recently engaged in the January operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Upon arrival, the Ford will join the USS Abraham Lincoln and a 12-ship carrier strike group already positioned in the Arabian Sea. Trump defended the “two-carrier” posture as a tool of psychological warfare, stating:

“In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it. Sometimes you have to have fear. That’s the only thing that really will get the situation taken care of.”

Diplomacy Under Duress

The President’s comments on Iran Regime Change come just one week after a round of indirect negotiations in Muscat, Oman, on February 6. While Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as a “good start,” the U.S. remains firm on expanding the scope of any agreement.

• The U.S. Demands: Beyond nuclear enrichment, the administration is demanding curbs on Iran’s ballistic missile program and the cessation of funding for regional proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah.
• The Geneva Round: Reports indicate that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to meet with Omani mediators in Geneva this coming Tuesday, February 17, for a follow-up session.

Trump’s messaging remains a blend of threat and invitation: “Give us the deal that they should have given us the first time… If they give us the right deal, we won’t do that [attack].”

The Domestic Crisis in Iran

The administration’s shift toward a regime-change narrative is heavily influenced by the “2026 Massacres” currently unfolding in Iran. Triggered by a currency collapse in late 2025, nationwide protests have faced a brutal crackdown.

Export to Sheets

Trump referenced the 47-year history of the clerical government, lamenting that “we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk.” While he declined to name a preferred successor to the current leadership, he noted that “there are people” ready to take over.

Strategic Complexity

The explicit mention of regime change marks a departure from earlier administration statements. Only last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that overturning the Iranian government would be “far more complex” than the recent success in Venezuela, given the deeply entrenched nature of the Islamic Republic’s institutions.

However, with the “midnight hammer” of June 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites still fresh in the regional memory, the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford signals that the White House is prepared to move beyond sanctions if the Geneva talks fail to produce an immediate breakthrough.

Iran Regime Change