Trump Rejects Khamenei’s Son, Insists He Must Be Involved in Choosing Iran’s Next Supreme Leader
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has publicly rejected the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei succeeding his father as the next supreme leader of Iran, insisting that he must be personally involved in the process of selecting the country’s next leader.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with Axios, where he discussed the ongoing political uncertainty in Iran following the death of the country’s long-time supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
According to the U.S. president, the idea of the late leader’s son taking power is “unacceptable,” and he believes a different figure should emerge to lead Iran toward stability and peace. Mojtaba has survived US-Israeli airstrikes that wiped out his father and dozens of the Islamic regime’s top brass.
Trump’s comments came a day after the White House suggested that regime change in Iran was not the primary objective of the administration’s ongoing military campaign in the region.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump reportedly said during the interview.
Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric who previously played a key role in managing his father’s political office, has been widely mentioned by analysts and Iranian political observers as one of the leading contenders to succeed the former supreme leader.
However, Trump dismissed the possibility and described the potential successor as a “lightweight,” arguing that the United States should have a say in the leadership transition.
The U.S. president went further by stating that he believes he should be directly involved in determining who ultimately replaces the late Iranian leader.
“I have to be involved in the appointment,” Trump said, comparing the situation to political developments in Venezuela where the United States previously supported leadership changes.
The comments have drawn significant international attention because the process of selecting Iran’s supreme leader traditionally falls under the authority of the country’s powerful clerical body known as the Assembly of Experts. This council, composed of Islamic scholars and senior clerics, is responsible for appointing and supervising the supreme leader under Iran’s constitution.
Analysts say Trump’s statement represents an unusually direct suggestion that Washington should influence the internal political structure of Iran.
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following military confrontations involving the United States and its allies. The killing of Ali Khamenei during recent military strikes has created a leadership vacuum that Iran’s political establishment is now attempting to fill.
Political experts say the leadership transition is one of the most critical moments in the history of the Islamic Republic, as the next supreme leader will hold enormous power over Iran’s political, military, and religious institutions.
Some observers believe that if Mojtaba Khamenei were selected, it could be seen as an attempt to maintain continuity within the current ruling system.
Others argue that the crisis could open the door for alternative figures within Iran’s clerical and political establishment.
Trump also warned that installing a leader who continues the policies of the late supreme leader could lead to renewed conflict between the United States and Iran within a few years.
International analysts have noted that while Washington may express preferences about Iran’s future leadership, the final decision will ultimately depend on internal Iranian political structures and the Assembly of Experts.
So far, Iranian officials have not publicly responded to Trump’s comments, and the timeline for announcing a new supreme leader remains uncertain.
As the situation continues to develop, global leaders and security experts are closely watching the succession process, which could shape the future direction of Iran’s domestic politics and its relationship with the international community.
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