Trump 'still interested' in diplomacy with Iran despite airstrikes: White House
Synopsis
Despite bombing Iran's nuclear sites, President Trump expresses continued interest in a diplomatic solution with Iran, suggesting the Iranian people should overthrow their government if negotiations fail.
Washington: Donald Trump thinks Iranians should overthrow their government if it refuses to negotiate on its nuclear program, but the US president is "still interested" in diplomacy, the White House said Monday.
White House Press Secretary defends President’s stance
"If the Iranian regime refuses to come to a peaceful diplomatic solution, which the president is still interested and engaging in, by the way, why shouldn't the Iranian people take away the power of this incredibly violent regime that has been suppressing them for decades?" Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News.
US bombers attacked Iran's heavily guarded and secretive nuclear enrichment sites over the weekend, joining Israel's military campaign to destroy the Iranian nuclear program.
Trump's comments clash with official US policy
Top officials have repeatedly insisted the US goal is not regime change in Iran, but Trump veered off that messaging Sunday with a social media post saying "why wouldn't there be a Regime change???"
The risky bombing mission was a complete success, according to the White House, with Trump announcing in another post that "Monumental Damage was done" to the sites. However, there is no independent verification of how much Iran's nuclear program has been set back.
Iran is accused by Israel, the United States and other Western powers of seeking to build nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian power program, something Tehran has always denied.