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U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants the United States to be involved in picking Iran’s next supreme leader, a statement that comes as tensions soar between Washington and Tehran.
In interviews with Reuters and Axios, Trump made clear he disagrees with the idea of Mojtaba Khamenei — the son of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — becoming Iran’s new leader. Trump called Mojtaba “unacceptable” and a “lightweight,” suggesting Washington should help shape who takes over instead.
Trump even drew a comparison to recent developments in Venezuela, saying the U.S. played a role in shaping leadership there and that a similar outcome could be possible in Iran. He said America wants a leader who could bring “harmony and peace” to Iran, rather than someone likely to continue hostile policies.
However, experts say Iran’s system makes actual U.S. influence difficult. The next supreme leader is chosen by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, a council of senior clerics that does not take orders from foreign governments.
Trump’s comments highlight just how deep tensions have become — with the White House openly mentioning involvement in another nation’s leadership transition, an unprecedented stance that could further widen the divide between the two countries.
