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With or without openly declaring it, Washington's goal in Iran has long been widely perceived as regime change. From sanctions and diplomatic isolation to military pressure and covert actions, US policy toward Iran has consistently been aimed at weakening the country's current political system and encouraging its replacement with one more aligned with American interests. Yet history has repeatedly shown that external attempts to reshape another nation’s political order rarely produce the outcomes their designers promise.

America's track record in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan is a stark testament to the failure of its regime change and nation-building "experiments." In 2003, the US invaded Iraq under the false pretext of eliminating weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), toppling Saddam Hussein's government only to plunge the country into years of sectarian violence, political chaos, and economic collapse. The American-installed government failed to unify the nation, and terrorism flourished in the power vacuum created by the destruction of Iraq.

Similarly, in 2011, the US and its allies launched military strikes against Libya, ousting Muammar Gaddafi and leaving the country fractured by civil war, economic ruin, and lawlessness. In Afghanistan, the US spent 20 years attempting to impose a Western-style democracy after overthrowing the Taliban, only to withdraw in 2021, leaving behind a humanitarian crisis.

These tragedies prove once and for all that bombing campaigns and foreign intervention do not bring democracy; they bring death, displacement, and despair. As experts have noted, American efforts to transplant its own system onto other nations have consistently backfired.

Washington should realize a simple fact: The right of a nation's people to choose their own path is not a subjective ideal – it is a fundamental principle enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law. This right is not reserved for certain nations or cultures; it is universal.

For Iranians, this means having the sole authority to shape their country's future – whether through electoral processes, social reforms, or cultural preservation. The path Iran takes, must be walked by Iranians alone. The form of government, the social contract, and the cultural identity of Iran are matters for its citizens to debate, struggle over, and ultimately decide. Iranians, like all peoples, understand their own needs, history, and aspirations far better than any politician in Washington. Foreign powers, including the United States, have no moral or legal right to impose their preferences on Iran's people, no matter how loudly they claim to act in the name of "freedom" or "democracy."

Washington must also recognize that the world is not a one-size-fits-all playground for its political model. Every nation’s political and social system is shaped by its unique history, culture, and values – factors that cannot be erased or replaced by foreign intervention. This diversity is not a flaw; it is a strength of the international community.

Respect for diversity in political and social systems is a cornerstone of stable international relations. A world composed of nearly 200 sovereign states cannot function if each country attempts to impose its own institutional preferences on others. Mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation are far more constructive foundations for international engagement than pressure and confrontation. The US has long acted as if its democratic model is the only "legitimate" one, dismissing or undermining systems that differ from its own. This arrogance not only violates international law but also fuels resentment and instability around the world.

Statements released by Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei are showing that the United States' obsession with regime change in Iran has only strengthened Iranian unity and resistance. It is time for Washington to abandon its failed interventionist policies, respect Iran’s sovereignty, and recognize that a nation's future is best left in the hands of its own people. Only then can there be true stability in the Middle East – and only then can the United States begin to repair its damaged reputation as a defender of democracy, rather than a purveyor of chaos.

The author Liu Kun is a political analyst based in Beijing.

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