Bolton: US not seeking regime change in Iran

US National Security Adviser John Bolton today reaffirmed that the United States was not seeking a change of government in Iran.

“Just to be clear, regime change in Iran is not American policy. But what we want is massive change in the regime’s behaviour,” Bolton told a news conference in Jerusalem, where he has held talks with Israeli leaders.

Bolton, who has in the past suggested the US government should push for a change in government in Iran, said in May that that was not part of the Trump administration’s policy.

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He has, however, said sanctions that the United States reimposed on Iran have been more effective than expected.

The Trump administration slapped back sanctionsthis month after withdrawing from what it called the “defective”2015 international nuclear deal with Iran.

“Let me be clear, the reimposition of the sanctions, we think, is already having a significant effect on Iran’s economy and on, really, popular opinion inside Iran,” Bolton told Reuters today.