Donald Trump has said he must play a role in determining who becomes the next leader of Iran following the death of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
In an interview with Axios on Thursday, the U.S. president stated that he believes Washington should be directly involved in the process of selecting Iran’s next leader. Trump argued that the choice of successor could shape the future of relations between the United States and Iran and determine whether tensions in the region escalate further.
Trump specifically rejected the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s 56-year-old son, taking over as Iran’s Supreme Leader. Mojtaba, a cleric with strong links to Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards, has been widely viewed as a leading candidate to succeed his father. However, Trump dismissed him as unsuitable for the position.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump said during the interview, adding that he intends to have influence over the decision.
The U.S. president compared the situation to developments in Venezuela earlier this year, when Delcy Rodríguez assumed power as acting president after U.S. forces captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and transferred him to New York to face drug-related charges. Trump suggested that Washington’s involvement in that political transition could serve as a model for Iran’s leadership change.
Trump further stressed that the United States would reject any Iranian leader who intends to continue the policies of the late Khamenei. According to him, installing a successor who maintains the previous regime’s approach could lead to renewed conflict between the two countries.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump said.
The remarks come amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following a major U.S. and Israeli military campaign targeting several sites in Iran. The strikes triggered retaliatory attacks across the region and have heightened uncertainty over Iran’s political future.
Despite the growing speculation surrounding potential successors, Iran has yet to officially announce a new Supreme Leader to replace Khamenei.
