Trump's Iran war risks US regime change, not Tehran's
Source: dailymail.co.uk
TL;DR
- Mark Almond argues Trump's chaotic war on Iran risks sparking US regime change via the 25th Amendment.
- Trump extended a 48-hour deadline to Tuesday after profane threats to destroy Iran's power stations and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed.
- The conflict has closed the Strait, spiked global fuel prices, and heightened nuclear risks in Iran after Khamenei's death.
The story at a glance
Mark Almond warns that President Trump's escalating war against Iran, marked by bombastic threats and military actions, could backfire by leading to his own removal under the 25th Amendment rather than toppling Tehran. Key players include Trump, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the IRGC, and figures like the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba. This column appears now amid ongoing US strikes, a closed Strait of Hormuz, and Trump's deadline extension to Tuesday, with mid-term elections looming. The US-Iran clash began with strikes killing Khamenei, now fueling global oil disruptions.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-15708297/MARK-ALMOND-war-regime-change-America-Iran.html)
Key points
- US military rescued two airmen shot down over Iran, boosting morale but prompting Trump to double down on threats instead of seeking peace.
- Trump issued expletive-filled warnings, including "Open the F*n' Strait, you crazy bds, or you'll be living in Hell," and threatened to "blow everything up and take over the oil."
- Iran's IRGC aims to survive via oil sales to China while targeting Gulf infrastructure like airports, refineries, and desalination plants, risking mass deaths from power and water shortages.
- Russia pulled 200 engineers from Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant amid US bombing, leaving Iranian staff with fuel rods that could yield plutonium for warheads under new leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
- Global fallout includes empty petrol stations in Australia, fuel rationing in Italy, and soaring prices likely to boost UK staycations.
- Options for Trump include seizing Kharg Island oil terminal or intensifying bombing, but both risk high casualties and missile shortages ahead of mid-terms.
- US senators from both parties criticise Trump's "unhinged" outbursts, like mocking "Praise be to Allah," raising talk of invoking the 25th Amendment.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-15708297/MARK-ALMOND-war-regime-change-America-Iran.html)
Details and context
The war escalated after US strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had fatwas against nuclear weapons; his son Mojtaba may reverse that, especially with Bushehr now Iranian-operated and producing plutonium-laced waste.
Iran retains over half its missiles despite strikes, enabling hits on Gulf states like Saudi Arabia that backed the US, potentially dwarfing the Syrian refugee crisis with summer blackouts killing thousands.
Trump's TV-host style prioritises optics over strategy, as seen in adrenaline-fueled escalation post-rescue, while UN Security Council veto power shields him from war crimes charges—but not domestic backlash.
Mark Almond, of the Crisis Research Institute, contrasts this with leaders who stay calm under war strain, suggesting Trump and Hegseth are cracking.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-15708297/MARK-ALMOND-war-regime-change-America-Iran.html)
Key quotes
- Trump: "Open the F*n' Strait, you crazy bds, or you'll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!"[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-15708297/MARK-ALMOND-war-regime-change-America-Iran.html)
- Trump to reporter: "If they don't make a deal and fast, I'm considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil."[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-15708297/MARK-ALMOND-war-regime-change-America-Iran.html)
Why it matters
Trump's war threatens global energy stability, mass casualties in the Gulf, and possible Iranian nuclear breakout amid closed oil routes. Readers face higher fuel costs, travel disruptions, and inflation, while investors watch volatile markets tied to the Strait. Watch Trump's Tuesday deadline and any 25th Amendment moves, though outcomes remain unpredictable with mid-terms near.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-15708297/MARK-ALMOND-war-regime-change-America-Iran.html)