WorldTrump Demands Role in Selecting Iran's Next Supreme Leader
U.S. President Donald Trump said he wants a role in choosing Iran’s next supreme leader following the reported death of Ali Khamenei, making an unusually direct claim about influencing Iran’s internal leadership transition during the ongoing war. Speaking in an interview, Trump rejected Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei as a potential successor and said Washington preferred a leader who could stabilize the country and reduce hostilities.
Trump also compared the situation to U.S. involvement in political change in Venezuela, suggesting Washington should help shape Iran’s future leadership to ensure long-term stability. His remarks came as U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iranian targets intensified, raising questions about whether the conflict’s goals include broader political change in Iran.
Under Iran’s constitution, the selection of a new supreme leader is normally handled by the Assembly of Experts, a body of senior clerics responsible for appointing the country’s top authority. Trump’s comments therefore sparked controversy and uncertainty about the extent of U.S. ambitions in the conflict and whether Washington is seeking to influence the outcome of Iran’s leadership transition.
Muskan Zahra