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3. Trump Says U.S. Must Be Involved in Choosing Iran’s Next Leader

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that Washington must play a role in determining Iran’s next leadership following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in recent U.S.-Israeli strikes, signaling a potential shift toward direct American influence over the country’s political future.

Speaking in several media interviews, Trump said the United States would have “a big impact” on Iran’s leadership transition, suggesting that any future political settlement in Iran would depend in part on Washington’s approval.

“I have to be involved in the appointment,” Trump said in a phone interview with Axios, comparing the situation to U.S. involvement in political developments in Venezuela earlier this year.

Rejects Succession by Khamenei’s Son

Trump also dismissed speculation that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Iranian supreme leader, could emerge as a successor. “They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump said, adding that such a scenario would be “unacceptable.”

“We want someone who's going to have a big impact, or they’re not going to have any settlement,” he said.

Washington Signals Influence Without Invasion

While indicating that Washington intends to shape the outcome of Iran’s leadership transition, Trump rejected the idea of a large-scale U.S. ground invasion.

In comments to NBC News, he described such a scenario as “a waste of time,” arguing that Iran’s military capabilities had already been severely degraded.

“They’ve lost everything. They’ve lost their navy. They’ve lost everything they can lose,” he said.

At the same time, Trump suggested that Washington would seek to ensure that Iran’s next leadership does not rebuild nuclear capabilities.

“We’ll work with the people and the regime to make sure that somebody gets there that can build Iran, but without nuclear weapons,” he said.

Questions Over Iran’s Future Leadership

Trump also downplayed the possibility that Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former shah and a prominent opposition figure, could emerge as the country’s next leader. 

“It would seem to me that somebody from within, maybe, would be more appropriate,” Trump said earlier this week at the White House, suggesting that a new leader could emerge from within Iran’s existing political structure.

The remarks highlight growing uncertainty over Iran’s political future following the killing of Khamenei, who had led the Islamic Republic since 1989, and signal Washington’s intention to influence the country’s next phase of leadership as the regional conflict continues to unfold.