Trump says he must approve the next leader of Iran

The president pointed to events in Venezuela earlier this year as a model for how Washington might influence political change abroad.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he must have a role in selecting Iran’s next supreme leader following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warning that the potential succession of the late leader’s son Mojtaba Khamenei would be unacceptable.

Speaking in a phone interview with Axios, Trump argued that Washington should participate in shaping the leadership transition now unfolding in Iran. Tehran has not yet publicly named a successor, although there is speculation that the slain leader Khamenei’s son Mojtaba may be selected.

Trump dismissed that possibility during the interview.

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump said. “I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela.”

The president also said he would oppose any candidate who continued the approach associated with Iran’s previous leadership.

“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he said.

Iranian officials have delayed announcing a successor in the days since Ali Khamenei’s killing, fueling speculation about the direction of the transition.

Iranian politicians signaled Thursday that a decision could be revealed soon.

During the interview, the president pointed to events in Venezuela earlier this year as a model for how Washington might influence political change abroad.

After US forces captured Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assumed power.

Trump later referenced the shift during his State of the Union address, calling Venezuela “our new friend and partner” and saying the United States had received more than 80 million barrels of oil since the operation.

On Wednesday, Trump again praised Rodriguez, stating that “the oil is beginning to flow” following a visit to Caracas by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and an announcement by Rodriguez about planned reforms to Venezuela’s mining laws.