Trump leans into idea of regime change in Iran, hits at critics

For full coverage of earlier developments, see our previous live blog here.

"Peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved by the use of force," China's United Nations Ambassador Fu Cong said.

"Diplomatic means to address the Iranian nuclear issue haven't been exhausted, and there's still hope for a peaceful solution."

China helped mediate a regional spat between Iran and Saudi Arabia and has signed vast but mostly unrealized economic deals with Tehran.

Iran supplies Russia with drones fired into Ukraine, and the two Western pariah states have drawn closer.

Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia hit out a what he called the rerun of the US Iraq War, based on weapons of mass destruction which were never found.

"Again we're being asked to believe the US's fairy tales, to once again inflict suffering on millions of people living in the Middle East," Nebenzia said.

"This cements our conviction that history has taught our US colleagues nothing.

"Peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved by the use of force," China's United Nations Ambassador Fu Cong said.

"Diplomatic means to address the Iranian nuclear issue haven't been exhausted, and there's still hope for a peaceful solution."

Russia's ambassador Vassily Nebenzia hit out a what he called the rerun of the Iraq War.

"Again we're being asked to believe the US's fairy tales, to once again inflict suffering on millions of people living in the Middle East," the envoy said.

"This cements our conviction that history has taught our US colleagues nothing.

Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie called out Trump on the President's sharp post welcoming Iran regime change if Tehran doesn't "Make Iran Great Again".

"This is not America First folks," Massie wrote.

"He’s a simple minded “grandstander” who thinks it’s good politics for Iran to have the highest level Nuclear weapon, while at the same time yelling “DEATH TO AMERICA” at every chance they get," Trump blared back.

Massie, who describes his district as "Appalachiastan," said the congress should have agreed to a decision to lead the United States closer to a war with Iran.

"When two countries are bombing each other daily in a hot war, and a third country joins the bombing, that’s an act of war," Massie wrote on X after Trump announced that US forces had attacked Iranian nuclear sites.

"I’m amazed at the mental gymnastics being undertaken by neocons in DC (and their social media bots) to say we aren’t at war… so they can make war," Massie said.

Trump is facing the biggest rift yet with parts of his support base who strongly object to foreign military enterprises after failures in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Veteran commentators and influencers of Trump's Make American Again movement - Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon - have come out strongly against war.

The President's rebuke of Massie showed the administration was trying to quickly quell any dissent in the Republican party, which Trump has firmly controlled.

"Iran has killed and maimed thousands of Americans, and even took over the American Embassy in Tehran under the Carter Administration," Trump said.

"We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the “bomb” right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!) but, as usual, and despite all of the praise and accolades received, this “lightweight” Congressman is against what was so brilliantly achieved last night in Iran."

Most Republicans politicians have strongly praised Trump's decision to attack.