US President Donald Trump has stated that he needs to be actively involved in determining who will be Iran's next leader.
In an interview with Axios on Thursday, he made this declaration just five days after the assassination of the country's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, during a coordinated strike carried out by the US and Israel at Khamenei's residence in Tehran.
Trump emphasized that Iran would be “wasting its time” if it attempted to select a successor without input from the United States.
He also voiced strong opposition to Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the deceased leader, labeling him as an unacceptable candidate for leadership.
Calling the younger Khamenei a “lightweight,” Trump insisted, "We want someone who will foster harmony and peace in Iran."
He reiterated his need for involvement in the appointment process, drawing a parallel with his influence regarding Delcy Rodriguez in Venezuela.
Additionally, he asserted that he would reject any new Iranian leader who continues the policies of the previous regime, warning that such a leader could provoke another conflict with the US in the next five years.
Trump indicated that the worst-case scenario would be a successor who is just as hardline as the late Khamenei. In his own words, “We don’t want that to happen. So, we’d like to see someone in there who’s going to bring it back for the people.”
He noted that many of the Iranian officials he considered for leadership have been killed, stating, "Most of the people we had in mind are dead."
This statement from Trump arrives amid the ongoing military conflict initiated by the US and Israel against Iran, which has resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Iranians, with at least six American soldiers and 11 Israelis confirmed dead due to Iranian assaults.
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