Rubio Calls For Iran Regime Change As Trump Signals Deal To End War: 'They Want To Govern The Region'
Rubio Calls For Iran Regime Change As Trump Signals Deal To End War: 'They Want To Govern The Region' Published By, Last Updated: August 02
Rubio Calls For Iran Regime Change As Trump Signals Deal To End War: 'They Want To Govern The Region' Published By, Last Updated: August 02, 2026, 08:21 IST US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran's regime must change its behaviour, not necessarily through regime change, as Trump signals a possible deal to end the Iran conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran's regime must change its regional behavior, while President Donald Trump signals a possible diplomatic breakthrough in the ongoing Iran conflict. (Photo: AP) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the Iranian regime must fundamentally change its behaviour even if there is no formal regime change, arguing that Tehran’s long-standing ambition to project power across the Middle East must come to an end. Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Rubio stressed that Washington’s objective is not necessarily to replace Iran’s leadership but to ensure that the regime abandons what he described as its expansionist policies. “The regime has to change. You may not have a regime change, but the regime has to change," Rubio said. He went on to describe what he sees as Tehran’s core challenge. “The Iranian regime traditionally has been expeditionary. In essence, their view is they don’t want to govern Iran. They want to govern the region.
They want to export their revolution. That does have to change. And the only way you’re going to change that is if you make the price of it too high for them to be able to pay," Rubio said. His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the Trump administration continuing to pressure Iran while also leaving the door open for negotiations. Rubio Says Iran Can No Longer Act Without Consequences During the interview, Rubio also argued that Iran is facing a fundamentally different US administration under President Donald Trump than it has in previous decades. “I don’t think the Iranian regime has ever faced a president like President Trump, which is someone that actually takes action," Rubio said. He added that Iran had become accustomed to avoiding meaningful consequences over the last two or three decades. ALSO READ | US Water Systems Hit By Cyberattacks Across 7 States: Is Iran Behind It? “They got used to, for 20 or 30 years, not just the US, but the world, allowing them to get away with things like lying, breaking deals, tricking people into agreements," Rubio said. According to Rubio, the Trump administration’s approach is intended to ensure that such actions carry tangible costs, reinforcing his argument that Tehran’s conduct, rather than simply its leadership, must change.
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