The United States President, Donald Trump, has said he must be involved in the selection of Iran’s next leader following the death of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with Axios on Thursday, dismissing the possibility of Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, succeeding his father.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela,” he said.
The US president was referring to Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power in Venezuela after US forces captured former president Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
Trump also said he would reject any successor who continues the policies of the late Iranian leader.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he stated.
He warned that installing a leader who follows the same path as the former supreme leader could force the United States back into war with Iran “in five years.”
