Mike Turner: The US Has Not Targeted Khamenei and the Iranian Leadership
U.S. Republican Congressman Mike Turner said on CBS News: "Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with Secretary Rubio, who clearly told me that the United States has not targeted Ali Khamenei and the Iranian leadership."
"I think it's very important to discuss this. As you know, the President of the United States stated that we target the military and military infrastructure, not regime change. Yesterday, when I had the opportunity to speak with Secretary Rubio, I asked about this, and he gave a very clear answer that we have not targeted Khamenei and the Iranian leadership. Therefore, it is very important that the United States is not seeking regime change."
However, Trump himself told The New York Times in a phone interview that he already had three candidates ready to serve as Iran's new leaders. Previously, Trump had called on Iranians to "take control of their own fate" in a nationwide speech. He said, "I again call on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian army and the police to lay down their arms and gain full immunity - otherwise they will face certain death. I call on all Iranian patriots who long for freedom: take this moment. Be brave. Be decisive. Be heroes. Take back your country. The United States supports you. I have made a promise to you - and I have fulfilled it. What happens next depends on you. But we will be here to help."
In an interview with The Telegraph (published on March 2, with an unknown recording date), Trump was even more resolute: "We have always expected the 'epic fury' operation to last four weeks. We also expected it would take two to three weeks to clear part of Iran's leadership, but we cleared everyone in one day. So the result came much faster than planned."
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858561605088256/
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