Iran announces new leader as Trump suggests any successor must gain US backing to survive in power.
Trump on Regime Change in Iran
When asked about the election of a successor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Trump told ABC that whoever it is “must gain US support.” The president argued that he wants to avoid the need to return to military action in five or ten years, and especially to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “If he doesn’t get (US support), he won’t last long. We want to make sure we don’t have to come back every 10 years when you won’t have a president like me who would do it,” he added.
The president did not rule out supporting a leader connected to the current regime in Tehran, if it would be a good leader. Trump also presented another justification for the ongoing military operation. He claimed that Iran planned to take control of the entire Middle East, and the United States prevented this. He described Iran as a “paper tiger,” adding that it wasn’t one a week ago. “They planned to attack the entire Middle East, to take over the entire Middle East,” Trump claimed.
What About Iran’s Nuclear Program?
The president declared that “all options are on the table” regarding Iran’s enriched uranium, including the use of special forces to physically seize it. These supplies are reportedly located in deeply buried tunnels in Isfahan, outside the range of penetration bombs. According to The New York Times, US intelligence believes Iran has access to these materials. Enriching uranium from the current 60% to the 90% needed to construct an atomic bomb requires approximately 7-10 days, according to US officials.
According to reports from Axios and other media, such an option is being discussed in the White House. When asked directly about it on Saturday, Trump said it was possible, though he noted that appropriate conditions on the ground would be necessary. According to The Washington Post, the famous parachute unit, the 82nd Airborne Division, canceled previously planned exercises, which sparked speculation about possibly sending it to Iran.
Iran Reveals Name of New Leader
Iranian authorities rejected Trump’s statements. Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi stated in a Sunday interview with NBC that the election of a new leader is solely the business of the Iranian people. With a majority of votes, they chose a person who will continue the path of Imam (Ruhollah) Khomeini (Iran’s first leader) and martyr Imam (Ali) Khamenei. The name Khamenei will remain unchanged. Voting has concluded and its results will be announced soon, Hoseynali Eskandari, a member of the Assembly of Experts, said on Sunday.
This suggests that the successor to the Supreme Leader killed in the US-Israeli attack, his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who was considered one of the main candidates for this role, will be chosen. Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected a new state leader on Sunday, but his name has not yet been announced, members of this body had previously reported.
Mohsen Hejdari, a representative of Khuzestan province in the 88-member Assembly of Experts, stated that the election was made in accordance with Ali Khamenei’s recommendation, who said that his successor should be “hated by the enemy,” not praised by him.