United States President Donald Trump has said he wants a role in deciding who becomes Iran’s next leader after the death of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Trump spoke about the issue during an interview with Axios on Thursday. He rejected the idea that Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, could succeed his father.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela,” he said.
The US president referred to Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed leadership in Venezuela after American forces captured former president Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
Trump also stated that he would not accept any new Iranian leader who continues the policies associated with the late supreme leader.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he stated.
He warned that the emergence of a leader who follows the same direction as the late Khamenei could push the United States and Iran into another conflict.
According to him, such a development could lead to war between both countries “in five years.”
Mojtaba Khamenei, a cleric believed to have close links with Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards, has been widely mentioned as a possible successor. Iranian authorities, however, have not officially named a new supreme leader.
Trump’s remarks came a day after the White House indicated that the removal of Iran’s leadership was not the main goal of the current US military operations in the region.
Iran’s Supreme Leader holds the highest political and religious position in the country. The office exercises strong authority over the armed forces, the judiciary and key government policies.
Uncertainty over the country’s leadership followed the death of Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989. He died in late February during a series of joint airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iranian military and government targets.
The strikes formed part of a broader campaign linked to tensions surrounding Iran’s regional activities and nuclear programme.
Reports indicated that several strategic facilities in Tehran and other areas were targeted during the operation. The attacks sparked a wider confrontation across the Middle East.
Iran later launched missile and drone strikes against Israeli and US-related targets in the region. The situation increased fears of a broader conflict and disrupted energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Khamenei did not publicly announce a successor before his death. His killing created a leadership vacuum in Tehran and triggered speculation about who may take over as the conflict continues.
