Regime Change: President Trump Urges Iranians to Overthrow Government Amid Joint Airstrikes

 

The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East reached a historic breaking point on Saturday, February 28, 2026, as President Donald Trump issued a direct and provocative appeal to the citizens of Iran. Following a massive wave of coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel against strategic Iranian installations, the U.S. President has openly called for the Iranian people to rise up and overthrow their current government, marking a definitive shift toward a policy of forced regime change.

​This high-stakes declaration, delivered via a televised address from the White House, coincides with "Operation Epic Fury," a joint offensive aimed at neutralizing Iran's nuclear capabilities and military infrastructure. As explosions continue to rock major Iranian cities, Trump’s rhetoric has added a psychological warfare dimension to the physical combat currently unfolding.

​The Call to Action: "Take Back Your Country"

​In his address, President Trump characterized the current Iranian leadership as a "corrupt and oppressive regime" that has squandered the nation's wealth on regional terrorism and nuclear ambitions. He framed the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military action not as an attack on the Iranian people, but as a liberation effort designed to weaken the grip of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

​"To the great people of Iran: Your leaders have failed you. They have chosen war over prosperity and terror over peace," Trump declared. "The United States and our allies are taking out the tools of your oppression. This is your moment to take back your country and restore the greatness of Persia."

​This is the most explicit call for an internal uprising by a U.S. President in decades, echoing the "Maximum Pressure" campaign of Trump's first term but escalating it into active military support for domestic dissent.

​Operation Epic Fury: The Military Context

​The President’s call for an overthrow did not happen in a vacuum. It was preceded by a series of high-precision strikes targeting:

• ​Nuclear Enrichment Sites: Facilities in Natanz and Fordow were reportedly hit by "bunker-buster" munitions.
• ​Drone Manufacturing Plants: Factories responsible for the Shahed drones used in regional conflicts were neutralized.
• ​Command and Control Centers: Cyber-attacks and kinetic strikes were used to blind the Iranian military's communication networks.

​By urging a revolution at the exact moment the Iranian military is in disarray, the Trump administration appears to be betting on a "perfect storm" of external pressure and internal unrest to collapse the Tehran government.

​Historical Precedents and Regional Risks

​The strategy of encouraging an internal coup or popular uprising while conducting external military operations is a controversial one. Critics point to the aftermath of the 2003 Iraq Invasion and the 2011 Libyan Intervention as cautionary tales where the collapse of a central government led to prolonged power vacuums, civil war, and the rise of extremist groups.

​However, supporters of the President’s move argue that Iran’s unique internal demographics—including a large, young, and Western-leaning population—make it a prime candidate for a successful democratic transition. The "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests of previous years demonstrated a significant undercurrent of dissatisfaction that the U.S. is now looking to harness.

​International Reaction: Support and Fear

​The global community is sharply divided over Trump’s "overthrow" rhetoric:

1. ​Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has echoed Trump's sentiments, stating that a "free Iran" is the only path to a stable Middle East.
2. ​Russia & China: Both nations have condemned the U.S. position, accusing Washington of violating the UN Charter and attempting to install a "puppet government" through illegal military force.
3. ​The European Union: EU leaders have expressed "grave concern" that calling for a revolution during an active bombardment could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe and a massive refugee crisis.

​Economic and Security Implications

​The combination of active war and a call for revolution has sent global oil prices soaring past $90 per barrel, with markets fearing a total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, U.S. bases in Iraq, Syria, and Kuwait remain on "Delta" alert, anticipating retaliatory strikes from Iranian-backed proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis.

​Security analysts warn that if the regime does not collapse quickly, Iran may opt for an "all-out" response, targeting regional energy infrastructure or conducting large-scale cyber-attacks against Western financial systems.

​Conclusion: A Gamble for the Ages

​President Donald Trump’s urge for Iranians to overthrow their government is a geopolitical gamble of unprecedented proportions. By tying U.S. military power to a plea for domestic revolution, the administration has signaled that it is no longer interested in containment or "deals"—only the total transformation of the Iranian state. As the missiles fly and the social media feeds in Iran buzz with news of the President's speech, the world waits to see if the Iranian people will answer the call, or if the region is headed for a long and bloody winter of war.