US House Speaker Mike Johnson: We Will Not Rebuild Iran

US House Speaker Mike Johnson has affirmed that Washington should not bear the responsibility of nation-building in Iran. This statement comes amid mounting tensions in the Middle East.

“I think that is not our responsibility,” Johnson said whilst providing remarks at a golf club owned by US President Donald Trump in Florida on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

The Republican politician from Louisiana explained that although the United States possesses adequate military capabilities, the nation lacks sufficient resources and willingness to continue engaging in deep global interventions. According to Johnson, the United States’ primary objective is to project peace through its strength, not to manage the internal reconstruction of other nations following conflict. He also noted that change in Iran should emanate from its own people.

The situation in Tehran has deteriorated following a massive air strike launched by the United States and Israel on 28 February 2026. The strike caused significant infrastructure damage and civilian casualties. A pivotal moment in the military operation was the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the assault. The Islamic Republic of Iran is currently observing a 40-day national mourning period.

Although the US and Israel initially justified the strike as a preemptive measure against a nuclear threat, the narrative has shifted towards regime change efforts. Russian President Vladimir Putin has characterised Khamenei’s killing as a cynical breach of international law. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has urged immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities to prevent a broader conflict in the region.

Iran has since launched retaliatory attacks against various US military facilities in the Middle East and Israeli territory in response to the death of its supreme leader.