In a recent interview, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about the longevity of Iran’s new supreme leader unless he receives approval from Washington. This statement comes in the context of heightened tensions following military operations involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran.
During the interview with ABC News, Trump remarked, “If he does not get our approval, he won’t last long. We want to make sure that we don’t have to come back every ten years when you don’t have a president like me who won’t do it. I don’t want people to come back in five years and do the same thing again, or worse, allow them to have nuclear weapons.”
Trump emphasized the importance of U.S. endorsement for the new Iranian leadership.
When asked if he would approve a candidate with ties to the previous Iranian administration, Trump indicated he would consider it for the sake of selecting a competent leader, noting, “There are many people who could fit the bill.”
Trump also accused the Iranian government of attempting to dominate the Middle East, suggesting that his administration had thwarted these ambitions.
In parallel developments, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts disclosed that the new supreme leader would bear the surname “Khamenei,” a reference to the family of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, the specific identity of the new leader has not yet been confirmed, pending an announcement from the Assembly’s Secretariat.
The Assembly of Experts, composed of 88 theologians and legal scholars, is tasked with selecting the supreme leader following the death of Ali Khamenei. On February 28, Trump claimed that Khamenei had died, a statement later corroborated by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Reports from Iran International indicated that on March 3, the Assembly had elected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the deceased leader, as the new supreme leader.
Military Operations Against Iran
On February 28, Israel launched attacks on Tehran, prompting President Trump to announce a “major combat operation” aimed at eliminating perceived threats from the Iranian regime. He accused Iran of funding and training militant groups in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine, asserting that the military operation’s goal was to dismantle Iran’s missile industry and naval capabilities.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have launched missiles and drones towards Israel and targeted U.S. military bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In response to the escalating military actions, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council. The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to regional security and stability in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that it is just to give Iranians a chance to rid themselves of a “terrorist regime” and ensure security for all nations affected by attacks from Iran.
On March 1, the IRGC announced the initiation of the “most destructive offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic” against Israel and U.S. military bases. Trump warned the Iranian regime to abandon its plans and threatened a “very strong response.” On March 2, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the next phase of military operations against Iran would be even more devastating.
On March 6, Trump reiterated the necessity for a complete overhaul of Iran’s leadership, stating he already had several candidates in mind for a “good leader.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed doubts about the stability of Iran's new supreme leader without U.S. approval, coinciding with military operations against Iran. The Assembly of Experts has reportedly elected Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader, while tensions escalate following recent military actions by the U.S. and Israel in the region.