Why Trump’s “reformist” hope for Iran is a strategic mirage | LSE United States Politics and Policy

The Trump administration appears to prefer Iranian reformists to play a key role in the country’s future, rather than supporting wholesale regime change. Mistaking reformists for a genuine alternative risks preserving the existing governance structure. Trump warned that Iran has not abandoned its pursuit of nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz blockade risks reigniting conflict while leaving Iran’s governing structure largely unchanged.