In an interview with Bloomberg News in the Oval Office on August 30, U.S. President Donald Trump speculated that the regime in Tehran might fall in the near future. Trump made this prediction based on his perception that his administration's policies were hurting the establishment in Iran.

"When I came into here, it was a question of when would they take over the Middle East,” he said. “Now, it’s a question of will they survive."

Trump did not elaborate further on the matter.

The Trump administration has taken a number of measures against Iran including leaving the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposing sanctions. Upon the direction of the president, the State Department has spearheaded a global effort named by State Secretary Mike Pompeo as the "maximum pressure campaign" against Iran. European countries and other remaining signatories of the JCPOA pact are attempting to save the deal with Iran.

During the first half of 2018, Iran saw numerous countrywide protests linked to poor economic conditions.