As global leaders intensified calls for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions, President Trump on Sunday openly floated the possibility of regime change in Iran—just hours after U.S. airstrikes targeted three of Tehran’s key nuclear facilities, deepening fears of a wider regional conflict.

“If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” Trump wrote in a provocative post on his social media platform, echoing his past rhetoric while signaling a hardline stance. The remarks came despite assurances from senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper, that the U.S. was not seeking full-scale war with Iran.

The strikes, which Pentagon officials said significantly damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, followed weeks of rising tensions, including Tehran’s recent threats to abandon nuclear restrictions under the 2015 deal. Iranian leaders vowed fierce retaliation, raising concerns of further military confrontations or proxy attacks across the Middle East. Meanwhile, European allies and U.N. officials scrambled to mediate, warning that unchecked hostilities could spiral into a broader conflict with global repercussions.