US President Donald Trump stated, in an interview with the website Axioswho “needs” to have direct participation in choosing Iran’s next supreme leader, comparing the situation to what he describes as his actions in Venezuela.
Trump acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is the main candidate for succession, but said he considers this scenario “unacceptable”.
According to him, a successor aligned with his father’s policies could take the US back to war with Iran in a few years.
“They are wasting time. Khamenei’s son is weak. I need to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela,” Trump said. “Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is a hard-line cleric with strong ties to the Revolutionary Guards but no experience in public office.
The official announcement of the new leader has not yet been made, despite signs that the decision is close.
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Trump’s statements contrast with the official position of the American government, which denies seeking “regime change” and says it focuses only on weakening Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.
