U.S. President Donald Trump says he must be personally involved in selecting Iran’s next leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejecting the possible succession of Mojtaba Khamenei and calling for a leader who will bring peace to the country.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he must be personally involved in the process of selecting a new leader for Iran following the death of its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Trump made the remarks during an interview with Axios on Thursday, as the country faces political uncertainty over who will succeed the late cleric. He acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the deceased leader, is widely considered a leading contender for the position. (Reuters)
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodríguez] in Venezuela.
“Khamenei son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”
Trump drew a comparison to developments in Venezuela, where Delcy Rodríguez emerged as leader after U.S. strikes led to the removal of then-President Nicolás Maduro. He suggested a similar level of U.S. involvement could influence the outcome of Iran’s leadership transition. (The Independent)
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to surround Iran’s leadership following Khamenei’s death, with no official announcement yet on who will take over. Reports indicate that a building housing members of the clerical council responsible for selecting the next supreme leader was bombed while votes were being counted, further complicating the transition. Analysts say the situation remains highly unstable and Trump’s remarks could affect ongoing efforts to stabilise the country and reduce tensions in the region.
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