Bolton on Newsmax: U.S. Acted at 'Right Time' Against Iran, Regime Must Be Removed
He argued the regime “can be pulled apart at the top and that's what, in effect, what we and Israel are doing right now."
Tommy Flynn
Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton told Newsmax on March 20, 2026, that the timing of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran was correct and that the Tehran regime is weaker than at any point since 1979, making regime change both possible and necessary.
Appearing on “Bianca Across the Nation,” Bolton said the United States should not wait for an imminent nuclear threat before acting. “I think it was the right time to go in,” he stated, adding, “I don’t think the nuclear threat was imminent, but I don’t think the United States is required to risk the imminent destruction of our people before we take preventative action to remove the threat.”
Bolton described the Iranian regime as “as unpopular, as weak, as it’s been at any point since it took power in 1979,” citing a collapsing economy, widespread frustration among young Iranians (who make up two-thirds of the population), protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, and discontent among ethnic minorities including Kurds, Azeris, Baluchis, and Arabs.
He argued the regime “can be pulled apart at the top and that's what, in effect, what we and Israel are doing right now." He urged stronger U.S. support for internal opposition forces, including providing communications, assistance, money, and possibly weapons, stressing, “We need to win.”
Bolton also warned that Iran’s recent threats against Gulf states demonstrate the regime’s ongoing danger. He rejected any long-term acceptance of a nuclear Iran, declaring, “We don’t have to live under the threat. That’s just simply unacceptable.”
The interview comes amid the third week of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli campaign that began February 28 and has targeted Iranian nuclear sites, missile capabilities, and senior leadership. Bolton’s comments reflect his long-held view that only regime change can permanently neutralize the Iranian threat.
No immediate response came from the White House or Iranian officials. Bolton served as national security advisor during the first Trump administration and has consistently advocated a hard-line policy toward Tehran.