Trump ready to get tough on Iran...again

DONALD Trump's Cabinet choices have led Iran opposition groups and experts to believe regime change is now inevitable for the Islamic nation.

- Marco Giannangeli

The President-elect had pursued a hardline stance on Tehran when last in the Oval Office, including abandoning the Iran deal which restricted its nuclear programme in return for sanction relief and the killing of top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a US air strike.

His recent Cabinet nominations are a clear indicator he will double down on non-military options to economically strangle Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's problematic theocracy, experts predicted.

Key appointments include Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, who has advocated for Israel to ramp up attacks on Iran.

National security adviser Michael Waltz helped pass legislation that would impose secondary sanctions on Chinese purchases of Iranian crude oil.