WASHINGTON, United States — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, March 2, 2026, called on the Iranian people to “take advantage” of what he described as an unprecedented opportunity for change, even as he insisted that US military operations were not intended to forcibly remove Iran’s government.
“We hope the Iranian people take advantage of this incredible opportunity,” Hegseth said during a Pentagon press briefing.
“President Trump has been clear — now is your time.”
He pointed to protests that swept across Iran earlier this year, suggesting that segments of the population had already signaled a desire for political transformation.
“We saw many, many of the Iranian people seek a change there,” Hegseth said. “This is their moment to take advantage of it.”
“Not a Regime Change War” — But Leadership Decimated
Despite the rhetoric, Hegseth maintained that the current conflict is not a formal campaign to topple the government in Tehran.
“This is not a so-called regime change war,” he said. “But the regime sure did change, and the world is better off for it.”
US and Israeli operations in recent days have reportedly killed numerous senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dramatically reshaping Iran’s leadership structure and raising questions about succession and stability.
President Donald Trump, in remarks shortly after the joint US-Israeli operation began, echoed similar themes.
“Seize control of your destiny,” Trump said Saturday in an address directed at the Iranian people. “America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force.”
Conflict Expands Across the Region
The war has continued to spiral, with explosions reported across multiple Middle Eastern cities and widening regional involvement.
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff warned that additional American casualties are expected and cautioned that the campaign “will not be a single, overnight operation.”
The US military confirmed that one American fighter jet was lost in what it described as an “apparent friendly fire incident,” though all crew members are reported to be in stable condition.
Economic and Energy Shockwaves
The conflict has begun sending shockwaves through global energy markets and air travel networks.
Qatar’s state-run energy company temporarily halted production of liquefied natural gas following an Iranian strike near one of its facilities.
Tehran has denied attacking any oil refinery in Saudi Arabia.
Airspace closures across the Middle East have disrupted international flights, stranding travelers and rerouting major carriers as governments reassess security risks.
A Pivotal Moment
While US officials publicly deny pursuing regime change as a military objective, their messaging has clearly encouraged internal political transformation within Iran.
Whether that message resonates with the Iranian population — or further hardens nationalist sentiment amid foreign strikes — remains uncertain.
What is clear is that the conflict has entered a volatile new phase, with military, political and economic consequences unfolding simultaneously across the region.
