[By Guancha Observer Network, Xiong Chaoying] On the evening of June 22nd local time, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his self-created social media platform "Truth Social", hinting at the possibility of a regime change in Iran.

"Using the term 'regime change' is politically incorrect, but if the current Iranian regime cannot make Iran great again (MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN), then why not have a regime change? Make Iran great again (MIGA)!!!" He wrote repeatedly in all capital letters with excitement.

CNN pointed out that although Trump did not explicitly state that the United States would carry out a regime change against Iran, his post compared to the messages conveyed earlier by senior officials of his administration was considered a "turning point." Earlier, Vice President Vance told a U.S. media outlet that "we do not want regime change"; Defense Secretary Hekseth also told reporters at the Pentagon on the same day: "This mission is not, and has never been intended to promote regime change in Iran."

On the evening of June 21st local time, after U.S. President Trump announced the "successful strike" on three nuclear facilities in Iran, the White House released several pictures of Trump's team inside the Situation Room on the X social platform. White House Social Media Account

According to The Times of Israel, on June 22nd local time, after the United States carried out military strikes on three major nuclear facilities in Iran, senior U.S. officials attempted to distance themselves from the U.S. offensive action, stating that they did not wish to escalate the conflict and urged Iran to return to the negotiating table to seek diplomatic solutions rather than prepare for war.

However, senior officials of the Trump administration also warned that if Iran sought retaliation, the United States would be forced to respond in kind, and the door for a long-term solution to Iran's nuclear program through diplomatic means would also close.

"We are not at war with Iran, we are at war with Iran's nuclear project," Vice President Vance told NBC's Meet the Press program. "I believe we have delayed their (nuclear) project for a very long time." He also said that although he could not provide an official assessment of the damage, he believed that it would take Iran many years to develop nuclear weapons.

Vance said that before the attack on the nuclear facilities, the United States confirmed that "Iran was producing highly enriched uranium, which is consistent with their desire to manufacture nuclear weapons." "Of course, whether they can develop nuclear weapons in a few weeks or months is still uncertain... They are too close to nuclear weapons, which made the U.S. president uneasy, and this is why he chose to take this action," he added.

Vance interviewed by NBC

When asked whether the United States would support Israel if it took action against Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei, Vance told NBC that such decisions would depend on the Israelis because the United States does not seek to change Iran's regime. "We do not want regime change," he emphasized: "We do not want to delay... We want to end the nuclear program, and then we want to negotiate a long-term solution with the Iranians." Vance reiterated that the United States "is not interested in deploying ground troops."

Like Vance, Defense Secretary Hekseth also cautiously emphasized that the United States was not seeking to promote a regime change in Iran. He described the attack as "intentionally restrained," but he also warned that if necessary, the United States would respond to Iran's provocations.

It was reported that Hekseth told reporters at the Pentagon that Washington had privately sent encouraging messages to Tehran to return to negotiations. At the same time, Vance believed that the U.S. air strike provided an opportunity to "reset bilateral relations and restart negotiations, making it possible for the situation to develop to the point where Iran can choose not to threaten its neighbors or the United States."

"If they are willing to do so, the United States will observe," Vance said: "The Iranians can choose the path of peace, or they can choose the absurd brinkmanship - funding terrorism and trying to produce nuclear weapons, but this is unacceptable to the United States."

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said in an interview with Fox News that the United States was willing to negotiate and even allow Iran to operate nuclear power plants, but not permit them to enrich uranium on their own.

"The Iranian regime should wake up and say, 'Well, if we really need to develop nuclear energy, there are feasible solutions.' This proposal remains valid, and we are always ready to engage in dialogue with them." He said: "Ultimately, they must make a decision. It is a very simple decision, if they want nuclear reactors to generate electricity - many other countries around the world are doing this, they do not have to enrich uranium themselves, they can do it like this."

Rubio also criticized that Iran had not taken the previous rounds of talks with the United States seriously, accusing Tehran of conducting "phony negotiations" to "play" Trump, but he emphasized that it was not too late to start over now.

Regarding negotiations, Vance said that although the United States initially felt some progress in negotiations, by mid-May, the situation was no longer so favorable. "The Iranians seem to be obstructing negotiations," Vance said, "this is the key hidden truth behind the events."

"The Iranians stopped sincere negotiations, and this is the real trigger for the air strike decision." However, he seemed cautiously optimistic that the air strike would bring an opportunity to restart diplomacy. He said that since the air strike, Washington had received some "indirect" information from Tehran.

Defense Secretary Hekseth (left) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kane attend a press conference Reuters

On the evening of June 21st local time, U.S. President Trump revealed on his self-created social media platform "Truth Social" that the United States had attacked three nuclear facilities in Iran and successfully completed the operation.

He wrote: "We have very successfully attacked three nuclear facilities in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. All aircraft are now outside Iran's airspace. Bombs with full yield fell on the main facility, Fordow. All aircraft are safely returning. Congratulations to our great American warriors. No other army in the world can do this. It is time for peace! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

The New York Times reported that Trump's order to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities was a "gamble," betting that the United States could withstand Iran's retaliatory strikes on more than 40,000 U.S. troops in the region and that the United States had ended Iran's ability to advance its nuclear program. "This is a dangerous gamble."

Trump's administration's "gamble" has drawn criticism both domestically in the United States and within the Republican Party. Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, said that the Trump administration's military strike was unauthorized by Congress and put the United States at risk of a catastrophic Middle East war. Republican Representative Thomas Massie criticized Trump's order to bomb Iran as "unconstitutional." Republican strategist Sarah Longwell said that an air strike on Iran would be seen by most of Trump's supporters as an "unforgivable sin."

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif said on social media on June 22nd that the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities was "outrageous" and would have "lasting consequences," and that Iran reserved all options to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people's security. UN Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement pointing out that the U.S. military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities was a "dangerous escalation" of regional tensions and posed a "direct threat" to international peace and security.

This article is an exclusive contribution from the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7518926029533102628/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author, and readers are welcome to express their opinions by clicking the "Top/Downvote" buttons below.