U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called on Iranians to “take advantage” of the opportunity for regime change, although he stated that the war is not about overthrowing the government in Tehran, CNN reports.
“We hope the Iranian people will seize this extraordinary opportunity,” Hegseth said during remarks at a press conference at the Pentagon on Monday. “President Trump has been clear — now is your time.”
“We previously saw many, many members of the Iranian people calling for change there,” he added later, referring to protests that swept Iran earlier this year. “This is their moment to take advantage of it.”
At the same press conference, Hegseth said: “This is not a so-called war for regime change, but the regime has certainly changed, and the world is better for it.”
U.S. and Israeli military operations have killed several members of Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in his first remarks following the start of the joint American and Israeli operation, urged the Iranian people to “take control of their destiny.”
“America is backing you with overwhelming strength and destructive power,” Trump said on Saturday.
