Pentagon: there will be no war for 'regime change' in Iran
Defense Secretary Hegseth sought to contain the scope of the military campaign, insisting US objectives are limited to neutralizing nuclear weapons capability.
World — March 2, 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth firmly stated Monday that the United States is not pursuing regime change in Iran, pushing back against speculation that the campaign could expand into a full-scale invasion.
'Our objectives are specific and limited: we are targeting nuclear sites and the missile systems that threaten our allies. We are not in the business of choosing governments for other countries,' Hegseth said at a press conference.
The secretary's remarks came amid growing debate in Washington about the ultimate goals of the campaign, with some hawkish voices calling for broader action to topple the Islamic Republic.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown Jr. echoed Hegseth's framing, describing the operation as 'a counter-proliferation mission, not a war of regime removal.'
Iran's foreign ministry dismissed the distinction as meaningless, arguing that attacks on sovereignty 'inevitably constitute an attempt to destabilize our government.'
Analysts noted that the stated limitation was meant partly to reassure Russia and China, which have warned against any operation designed to bring about political change in Tehran.
