Trump Says He Must Be Involved in Choosing Iran’s Next Supreme Leader

U.S. President Donald Trump says he must be involved in choosing Iran’s next Supreme Leader following the death of Iran’s longtime leader, Ali Khamenei. In a recent interview, Trump rejected the possibility of Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, succeeding his father and warned that the United States would not accept a leader who continues the late leader’s policies.

US President Donald Trump reacts to the leadership succession in Iran after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

President Donald Trump says he must be involved in choosing Iran’s next Supreme Leader, a statement that has drawn global attention as Iran prepares to name a successor after the death of Ali Khamenei.

Trump made the remarks during an interview with Axios on Thursday, where he openly dismissed the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Iranian leader, taking over the powerful position.

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment,” Trump said during the interview.

According to Trump, the United States would oppose any successor who continues the policies of the late Iranian Supreme Leader.

He added that Mojtaba Khamenei would be “unacceptable” to him and emphasized that the next Iranian leader must focus on bringing peace and stability to the country.

“We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump stated, warning that if the next leader follows the same policies as the late Khamenei, the United States could face another conflict with Iran within five years.

Trump also compared the situation in Iran to political developments in Venezuela earlier this year. He referenced the rise of Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez after the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro, saying the U.S. played a role in that transition.

Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly survived the recent U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that killed his father and several senior figures within Iran’s leadership. The cleric is widely seen as one of the most likely candidates to succeed the late leader.

Iran has yet to officially announce the next Supreme Leader, but political signals from Tehran suggest that a decision could be made soon.

The Supreme Leader of Iran holds enormous authority within the country, overseeing the armed forces, judiciary, and key national policies, making the succession one of the most consequential political decisions in the Middle East.

Trump’s comments came shortly after the White House suggested that regime change in Iran was not the primary goal of the U.S. military campaign currently unfolding in the region.