John Bolton: The Only Long-Term Solution for Iran is 'Regime Change'

John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a figure mentioned for the position of Secretary of State in Donald Trump's administration, stated on Thursday that the U.S. government should support efforts for 'regime change' in Iran, describing it as 'the only long-term solution' to the threats posed by the Iranian government in the Middle East. In an interview with the Breitbart website, which has close ties to Donald Trump, Bolton said, 'The Ayatollah regime is the main danger to global peace and security in the Middle East. Overthrowing this regime will undoubtedly restore peace and satisfaction to the region while eliminating the most significant threat in the area.' Stephen Bannon, former head of Breitbart, has recently been appointed as a senior strategic advisor to Donald Trump, a move that has drawn criticism from both Democrats and conservatives. In the interview, Bolton, whose aggressive foreign policy stance contrasts with Trump's frequent criticisms of the military invasion of Iraq, harshly criticized the international community's nuclear agreement with Iran, stating that its only result has been to assist the Iranian government. He said, 'I believe the people of Iran want a new regime' and added that the U.S. government should support opposition groups fighting to overthrow the Iranian government. The former U.S. ambassador to the UN noted that the people of Iran have long awaited regime change. Bolton stated, 'In my opinion, this regime is not popular, but it holds power and weapons. I believe there are ways to establish another government in Iran without involving U.S. armed forces and by supporting opposition groups.' He also acknowledged that 'this new government will not necessarily be formed by democratic individuals like followers of Thomas Jefferson.' Thomas Jefferson was one of the founders of the United States, the third President of the U.S., and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Rand Paul, a Republican senator, has expressed his opposition to Bolton's appointment as Secretary of State, stating, 'Bolton has learned nothing from the Iraq war.' Trump's transition team has considered various candidates for the position of Secretary of State, including hardline politicians like John Bolton, senior diplomats from George W. Bush's administration, and Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York. Both Bolton and Giuliani were significant American political figures who spoke at gatherings of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization. Other names mentioned for this position include Nikki Haley, the governor of South Carolina, and Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate in the 2012 presidential election who has been a staunch critic of Donald Trump.