Trump Says Iran’s New Leader ‘Must Be Approved by the U.S.’

[The Financial News] U.S. President Donald John Trump issued a public warning over the selection of the next supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, declaring that the new leader “must be approved by the United States.” The remark signals Washington’s intent to exert influence even over a potential reshaping of the Iranian regime, showing how the war in the Middle East is widening into a confrontation over Iran’s political system itself.
In an interview with ABC News on the 8th (local time), President Donald Trump said of Iran’s next supreme leader, “He will have to be approved by us,” adding, “If he doesn’t get our approval, he won’t last long.”
His comments came as the succession race intensified following the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who was killed in attacks by the United States of America (U.S.) and Israel.
The Assembly of Experts, the body that selects Iran’s supreme leader, has already chosen a new leader and is expected to announce the decision soon. Hossein-Ali Eshkevari, a member of the Assembly of Experts, stated, “A figure who will follow the path of Ruhollah Khomeini and the martyred Imam Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has been elected by a large majority.”
He also said, “The Khamenei name will be preserved,” prompting speculation that Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali Khamenei’s second son, has been chosen as successor.
President Trump also raised the possibility of regime change in Iran. Asked whether he would be willing to approve a figure linked to the Pahlavi dynasty, the country’s former ruling monarchy, he replied, “I would, if it means choosing a good leader,” adding, “There are countless qualified people.”
Commenting on the current situation in Iran, he said, “They are a paper tiger,” and argued, “They weren’t before the U.S. airstrikes, but they are now.” He went on, “Their plan was to attack and seize control of the entire Middle East.”
He also left the door open to possible military action. Asked about the possibility of deploying U.S. special forces to secure Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, President Trump said, “Everything is on the table.”
On the course of the war, he stressed that the U.S. holds the upper hand. “We sank 44 of their ships, and that was their entire navy,” he claimed, adding, “We neutralized their air force, their communications networks, and their air defense systems.”
On how long the war might last, he said, “I never make predictions,” but added, “In terms of lethality and timing, we are ahead of schedule.”
Regarding the rise in global oil prices triggered by the war, he assessed it as “a small problem.”
Asked whether his base might turn against him over this war, he answered, “What we are doing is MAGA,” asserting, “MAGA is about saving America.”

km@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Kyung-min Reporter