Donald Trump, President of the United States, has warned that Iran’s next supreme leader may not remain in power without approval from Washington, as Tehran prepares to announce a successor to slain leader Ali Khamenei.
The warning comes nine days into a widening conflict in the Middle East that resulted in the death of the long-time Iranian leader.
Members of the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting Iran’s supreme leader, said a successor had already been chosen. However, several hours after the announcement, the name of the new leader had not yet been made public.
One member of the assembly, Hossein Redaei, confirmed that votes had been gathered to determine the next leader. He noted that the body had not convened publicly due to wartime conditions in the country.
Speculation has focused on Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late leader, as a possible successor.
Trump had earlier insisted that the United States should have influence over the selection and dismissed the younger Khamenei as an unacceptable “lightweight.”
“He’s going to have to get approval from us,” Trump said during an interview with ABC News on Sunday. “If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long.”
However, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, rejected the comments and insisted that the leadership decision rests solely with Iran.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Araghchi said Tehran would “allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs.”
He also called on Trump to apologise to people in the region for the escalating conflict.
The possible appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei has drawn international attention. Analysts describe him as a conservative cleric with strong ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful military institution within Iran.
Meanwhile, Israel has warned that any successor to the late supreme leader could become a target if hostilities continue.
Israel’s military said it would not hesitate to act against future Iranian leadership if the conflict escalates further.
The situation remains tense across the Middle East as regional and global powers monitor the leadership transition and the future direction of Iran’s government.
