President Bush will offer words of support to Iranians who want greater freedom in his State of the Union address tonight.
But Republicans advocating a more muscular policy towards Iran said they expect no new initiatives, such as boosting funding for pro-democracy and civil society groups in Iran, in Mr Bush's speech.
Officials and experts, including many Bush allies have been quietly debating whether the United States should actively encourage political change in Iran.
But the debate has become more public since Iranian President Mohammad Ahmadinejad was elected last year and openly espoused a more anti-Western attitude.
He has called for Israel be wiped out and defied the United States and Europe in pursuing nuclear activities that the West says is aimed at developing a bomb and Tehran says is only for energy.
Those arguing openly for "regime change" in Iran include Robert Kagan and William Kristol, leading pro-Bush neoconservatives who helped lay the intellectual ground for the US invasion of Iraq.
These advocates are not pushing for an invasion of Iran, although some say military action remains a last-ditch option for delaying Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
The US State Department has spent about $4 million in grants for Iran-oriented pro-democracy programmes, including broadcasts and support for women's rights and press freedoms. Another $10 million is available.
In an interview with Reuters last week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the administration is "constantly reviewing what we can do to support democracy in Iran." She said officials are "looking at some programs" but gave no details.