Vance: If the Iranian people want to overthrow the regime, that’s up to them

US Vice President JD Vance indicates that the US is not planning to overthrow the Iranian regime, but rather to ensure that it doesn’t obtain a nuclear weapon.

Asked by reporters if he wants to see regime change in Iran, Vance replies, “If the Iranian people want to overthrow the regime, that’s up to the Iranian people. What we’re focused on right now is the fact that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

The US had recently appeared to be open to the idea of regime change in Iran, with President Donald Trump calling on protesters to “take over” government institutions amid the mass protests there, and reportedly asking aides for a strike plan that could help spur the toppling of the government.

But then Washington entered negotiations with Iran, which are set for a second round in the coming days. Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with an attack if it doesn’t agree to a deal that sees the Islamic Republic give up its nuclear capabilities as well as roll back its ballistic missile program.

“The president has told his entire senior team that we should be trying to cut a deal that ensures the Iranians don’t have a nuclear weapon,” Vance says. “But if we can’t cut that deal, then there’s another option on the table. The president is going to continue to preserve his options.”