President Donald Trump has been privately asking his national security team why the Iranian people have not overthrown their leaders. This question has been posed for months, with Trump initially expecting widespread protests in Tehran. The expectation was influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who suggested that intense strikes would spark street protests. However, other US officials were less certain, citing intelligence reports that indicated this outcome was unlikely.

The topic was debated before the initial attacks began, according to sources familiar with the matter. Trump ultimately initiated conflict in late February with a call to take power. Further details on the situation are available from the source.