Jürgen Hardt, the spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group on foreign policy, expressed skepticism about the possibility of a regime change in Iran, stating to RTL and ntv that he believes such an event is currently unlikely in Tehran. However, he suggested that the existing regime might learn from the experiences of the past week. According to Hardt, the current aggressive stance toward neighboring countries, efforts to develop nuclear capabilities, and the support for terrorism in the region are actions that are driving the regime toward decline and should cease. Conversely, if the regime were willing to change its behavior, the opposition – including Israel and the United States – might accept the continuation of rule by the Mullahs, meaning the current leader and his supported government could remain in power. For this scenario to be beneficial, Iran would need to abandon its nuclear and missile programs and ensure the free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Hardt added that the motivations might be threefold: first, allowing the regime to remain in place; second, possibly leading to a significant easing of sanctions; and third, creating an opportunity to export substantial amounts of oil. This influx of oil could, in turn, create a surplus on the global market, an outcome from which both sides could benefit. Because of these factors, Hardt concluded that negotiating a path forward is indeed possible.
CDU Ex-Politician Skeptical of Iranian Power Shift
