US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has acknowledged that for the last twenty years, the United States has engaged in efforts aimed at regime change in Iran, which he described as unsuccessful.

During a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Wednesday, Blinken was asked whether the US should pursue a policy of regime change in Iran.

He responded, “If we reflect on the past two decades, our attempts at regime change have not been particularly successful,” a statement that elicited laughter from the audience.

Blinken attributed these failures to the lack of diplomatic relations between the US and Iran since April 1980, when President Jimmy Carter cut ties following the 1979 hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran.

He emphasized the “complex” situation in Iran, suggesting that the US is “not the best source of a clear perspective on that” due to the prolonged disengagement. He noted that while the narrative opposing the Islamic Republic represents “at least half the population,” it is “not as straightforward as that.”

He acknowledged the presence of a significant conservative faction in Iran that likely remains loyal to the regime.

He also recognized that efforts from Washington to influence Iranian society have been challenging, stating, “it’s really hard to do from the outside.”

“Our aim has been, at various times, to empower those within Iran who seek a different future for their country—enabling them to communicate, stand up, and access resources,” the secretary of state remarked.

Blinken further indicated that Tehran might be contemplating the development of a nuclear weapon, especially given the rising tensions in the Middle East. He noted that the incoming administration of President Donald Trump would need to engage in negotiations with Tehran to avert the creation of a nuclear bomb.

During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump withdrew from the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement, which aimed to restrict Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, and initiated what he termed a “maximum pressure campaign.”

Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources, that Trump’s transition team is exploring options for addressing Iran, including a potential direct strike on its nuclear facilities.