Trump Asks Why Iran’s People Haven’t Toppled Their Leaders

President Donald Trump has repeatedly asked his national security team why Iranians are not rising up against their government, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The question comes as diplomacy with Tehran remains stalled. Trump reportedly believed early in the conflict that street protests would erupt in the Iranian capital. He was convinced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that public anger would boil over in Tehran. The president’s renewed focus on internal Iranian dissent signals a return to floating the idea of regime change, even as official talks have failed to advance. No new policy has been announced, but the private remarks reflect growing frustration within the White House over the lack of diplomatic progress. This approach echoes earlier periods when Trump publicly encouraged Iranian protesters while stopping short of direct military action. For now, his repeated question—why the regime still stands—highlights a strategic dead end, with neither diplomacy nor internal collapse offering a clear path forward.