Mike Pompeo’s Statements on Accelerating the Collapse of the Islamic Republic

“Mike Pompeo” in his statements presented an alarming analysis of a “regime in decline” and an opportunity to accelerate the collapse of the Islamic Republic by standing with the Iranian people.

Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State, in an analytical article published on the Fox News website, has painted an unveiled picture of the current situation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing it as a regime that faces clear signs of erosion and decline both domestically and at the regional level.

He emphasizes that these conditions have created a historic opportunity for American policymakers to accelerate the collapse of this system by increasing pressure on Iran’s governance and supporting the people.

Pompeo, referring to a series of measures taken in recent years by the Donald Trump administration as well as Israel to weaken the military and proxy arms of the Islamic Republic (including the 12-day war), writes: “The Islamic Republic is no longer the regional power it once was and now faces crises on every front. Iran’s military infrastructure has been severely weakened and its nuclear program has suffered serious setbacks. Its network of proxy forces across the Middle East is collapsing.”

According to him, this decline is not limited to the external sphere alone. Pompeo also describes Iran’s domestic situation as critical, writing: “The domestic situation is also bleak. Due to chronic economic mismanagement, corruption, and international isolation, the economy has collapsed and the country faces water shortages. The regime, devoid of popular legitimacy and unable to meet the people’s needs, has only one remaining tool for control: rule through fear.”

This assessment is in line with numerous reports from international human rights organizations that have reported in recent years on increased repression, widespread arrests, and severe restrictions against minorities, including Christians in Iran; repression that critics say is a sign of the structural weakness of a system, not its strength.

In another section of the article, Pompeo sharply criticizes the view that claims “there is no alternative” to the Islamic Republic and clarifies: “This understanding is incorrect in every way. It ignores the aspirations of millions of Iranians who have risked their lives demanding change and denies the existence of an organized and democratic opposition.”

Referring to widespread protests in recent years in Iran, he believes that the people have repeatedly and clearly expressed their wishes. Pompeo writes: “In successive waves of uprisings, the Iranian people have made their preference perfectly clear. They want neither religious rule nor monarchy. They want a free, democratic republic that is accountable to its citizens.”

The former U.S. Secretary of State refers to historical examples to explain the current situation of the Islamic Republic and, by recalling the fall of the Berlin Wall and the sudden collapse of Bashar Assad’s government, says: “Iran today exhibits the same classic signs of exhaustion that have often preceded the fall of authoritarian systems.”

Pompeo, who is considered one of the main architects of the “maximum pressure” campaign against the Islamic Republic, emphasizes that America’s duty is not to predict the exact time of collapse, but to prepare the conditions after it. He writes: “It is not the duty of American policymakers to predict the exact moment of the regime’s collapse, but to shape the environment so that when the collapse occurs, the result is stability, not chaos. This requires a realistic approach willing to move beyond failed diplomatic formulas of the past.”

According to him, this same logic is evident in Donald Trump’s policies toward Iran, both in his first and second administrations: “This second feature has characterized Donald Trump’s policies toward Iran in both his first and second administrations. Now he has the opportunity to complete his historic achievements in the Middle East with truly transformative success and help accelerate the decline of the Iranian regime.”

At the same time, Pompeo makes clear that regime change in Iran should not and cannot be imposed from outside. Emphasizing the decisive role of the Iranian people, he says: “No foreign force should replace their will.” However, according to him, the international community can and should play a supportive role: “We can help their desire for change by increasing external pressure and supporting those seeking a peaceful, democratic, and pro-Western future. Our duty is simple: stand with the Iranian people, acknowledge the democratic vision they have chosen, and deny those ruling clerics the money, legitimacy, and immunity they depend on for survival.”

This position is being raised at a time when many Iranian Christians, both inside the country and in exile, view the Islamic Republic as one of the main obstacles to religious freedom and human dignity. From their perspective, Pompeo’s statements are not merely a geopolitical analysis but a reflection of popular demands that have been paid for dearly for years in pursuit of freedom, justice, and a different future.