{"id":2573985,"date":"2026-02-26T14:04:58","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:04:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/john-thune-backs-regime-change-as-trump-mulls-iran-strike\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T14:06:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:06:30","slug":"john-thune-backs-regime-change-as-trump-mulls-iran-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/john-thune-backs-regime-change-as-trump-mulls-iran-strike\/","title":{"rendered":"John Thune backs regime change as Trump mulls Iran strike"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjohn-thune-backs-regime-change-as-trump-mulls-iran-strike%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2573985&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that Senate Republicans are pushing a hard-line stance on Iran as President Trump weighs military options to curb Tehran\u2019s nuclear ambitions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says any action should aim to achieve leadership change in Iran, i.e., regime change.The piece notes that Trump is considering a limited strike as leverage in diplomacy, while U.S. forces in the region are being reinforced with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >carrier strike groups<\/a>. Thune is part of the Gang of Eight that received a classified Iran briefing as Democrats push for a vote on Iran war powers amid ongoing indirect talks in Geneva.The report also mentions Trump\u2019s broader hawkish posture,including past calls for regime change in other countries and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tom-cotton-warns-americans-in-ukraine-leave-now-russian-invasion-could-be-matter-of-days\/\" title=\"Tom Cotton Warns Americans In Ukraine: \u2018Leave Now,\u2019 Russian Invasion Could Be \u2018Matter Of Days\u2019\">recent military moves<\/a>,alongside his stated willingness to confront threats,such as dispatching forces to the region and signals from his State of the Union address.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">John Thune backs regime change as Trump mulls Iran strike<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2517078\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The Senate&rsquo;s top Republican is calling for regime change in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\">Iran<\/a> as President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> weighs a range of military options to rein in Tehran&rsquo;s nuclear ambitions.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In my view, if you&rsquo;re going to do something there, you better well make it about getting new leadership and regime change,&rdquo; Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) told reporters on Thursday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4472553\/fetterman-slob-suit-state-of-the-union\/\">Fetterman admits he dresses &#8216;like a slob&#8217; but wore suit to &#8216;respect&#8217; State of the Union<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4472208\/treasury-sanctions-iran-oil-sales-ballistic-missiles\/\">Treasury sanctions entities enabling Iranian oil sales and ballistic missile production<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4471781\/vance-iran-take-nuclear-negotiations-seriously\/\">Vance says he hopes Iranians take new round of negotiations with the US seriously<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Trump acknowledged last week that he is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/trump-says-hes-considering-limited-military-strike-on-iran\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/trump-says-hes-considering-limited-military-strike-on-iran\/\">considering a limited strike<\/a> meant to give the United States additional leverage in diplomatic talks with Iran, but military officials are gaming out the possibility of a wider conflict, and the president himself has flirted with the idea of toppling the mullahs who have run Tehran since 1979.<\/p>\n<p>Thune is part of the Gang of Eight that received a classified briefing on Iran this week as the U.S. builds up military assets in the region, including two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/will-biden-abandon-taiwan\/\" title=\"Will Biden Abandon Taiwan?\">aircraft carrier strike groups<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re going to take some sort of action, I think you want to achieve a result that actually brings about the transformational change that I think we want in the region,&rdquo; Thune said.<\/p>\n<p>Thune has taken a hawkish stance on foreign policy under Trump, previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/burgessev\/status\/2001315750925983848?s=20\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/burgessev\/status\/2001315750925983848?s=20\">supporting the overthrow<\/a> of dictator Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. Trump, meanwhile, maintains that he prefers a diplomatic solution and gave Iran a 10- to 15-day window to strike a deal last week.<\/p>\n<p>The renewed threat of military action comes as the U.S. holds indirect talks with Iran in Geneva. Trump ordered a barrage of strikes on the country&rsquo;s nuclear facilities last summer, but the U.S. believes the country is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/liveblog_entry\/vance-says-us-has-seen-evidence-that-iran-is-trying-to-rebuild-a-nuclear-weapon\/\">taking steps<\/a> to reconstitute its program and wants to see it dismantled voluntarily.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4472980\/democrats-force-vote-iran-war-powers-resolution-trump\/\"><strong>DEMOCRATS TO FORCE VOTE ON IRAN WAR POWERS TO REIN IN TRUMP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think they&rsquo;re gaming out what contingencies might look like and what&rsquo;s in our national security interest,&rdquo; Thune said of military strikes, doubting that a final decision had been made as of Thursday.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Trump stepped up his buildup in the region this week when he dispatched F-22 jets to Israel, which suggests&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/24\/us\/politics\/f-22-fighter-jets-israel.html\">possible coordination<\/a>&nbsp;for an attack on Ir<\/span>an.<\/p>\n<p>At his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump told lawmakers he &ldquo;will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thune backs regime change as Trump weighs Iran strike<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3204,"featured_media":2573986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26041754953283-e1770904139182.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[57398,44946,49699,32640,32515],"class_list":["post-2573985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-iran-policy","tag-john-thune","tag-regime-change","tag-trump-administration","tag-us-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26041754953283-e1770904139182.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3204"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2573985"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2573989,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573985\/revisions\/2573989"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2573986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2573985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2573985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2573985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}