Trump's Iran war risks US regime change, not Tehran's

Source: dailymail.co.uk

TL;DR

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

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

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)