Reuters: White House expects Iranian retaliation within 48 hours

(Patria) - The United States has assessed that Iran could launch attacks on American forces in the Middle East "soon," although Washington continues to seek a diplomatic solution that would dissuade Tehran from any attack, two U.S. officials said today.

One of them, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said an Iranian attack could follow in the next day or two.

Tensions have further escalated after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, and Iran threatened retaliation.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that the White House would not object to Iranians carrying out a coup and overthrowing the Iranian government.

"If the Iranian regime refuses to reach a peaceful, diplomatic solution – for which the president is still interested... why shouldn't the Iranian people take power away from this extremely violent regime? Our stance has not changed," Leavitt told Fox News today.

The White House's position on the issue of overthrowing the regime in Iran has been subject to contradictory messages from the very top of the U.S. administration in recent days.

Although U.S. President Donald Trump openly suggested the possibility of "regime change" in Iran for the first time on social media yesterday, his closest associates continue to emphasize that this is not an official U.S. policy goal.

"It is not politically correct to use the term 'regime change,' but if the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why shouldn't there be a regime change???" Trump wrote.

U.S. President Donald Trump believes that Iranians should overthrow their government if it refuses to negotiate on the nuclear program, but he is "still interested" in diplomacy, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt emphasized.