U.S. Defense Secretary: We Are Not Seeking Regime Change or Internal Collapse in Iran

Jim Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, stated that the United States has no policy aimed at pursuing regime change or internal collapse in Iran, and all proposed actions are a response to Iran's threatening behaviors in the Middle East. This statement comes as Donald Trump, the President of the United States, recently addressed the Iranian president on Twitter with harsh language, warning that if Iran's threatening tone against the U.S. continues, there will be 'severe consequences.' On Friday, in response to a question about whether the U.S. has a policy for internal collapse or regime change in Iran, Mattis said, 'There is no such policy, and we have not put a new policy in place.' In a conversation with reporters without television cameras, the Secretary of Defense stated that Washington wants Iran to change its behaviors and policies regarding its military actions in the region and proxy wars. According to Reuters, a meeting was held at the White House on Thursday with senior U.S. officials, and one of the topics discussed was U.S. policy towards Iran. The report indicated that no official other than Mattis provided specific comments about this meeting. Since President Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal known as the JCPOA with Iran and the imminent return of sanctions against Iran, the economic situation in the country has deteriorated. Meanwhile, there are concerns about the possibility of military confrontation between the two countries. An Australian media outlet reported that 'the risk of a U.S. military attack on Iran is serious' and stated that 'the U.S. intends to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities within a month.' However, Jim Mattis rejected this media report, calling it 'storytelling.' Mattis said, 'I can confidently say that there is currently no discussion regarding such an action.' Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, set '12 conditions' for Iran after the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and stated that the United States would impose 'the toughest sanctions against Iran.' Iran has rejected the conditions proposed by the U.S. Currently, other countries involved in the JCPOA with Iran are exploring ways to preserve the agreement. On August 24, Donald Trump considered negotiations for a real agreement on non-nuclearizing Iran still possible, stating, 'We will see what happens, but we are ready to reach a real agreement, not what was formed in the previous administration, which was a disaster.'