WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. President Donald Trump has made a striking declaration that he believes the United States should play a role in determining the next supreme leader of Iran, dismissing Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as “unacceptable” and calling for a leader who would bring peace rather than extend hardline policies.
In an exclusive interview with Axios, Trump said that Mojtaba Khamenei, widely viewed as the leading contender to succeed his father, is not a suitable successor to lead Iran following the death of Ali Khamenei in recent U.S.–Israeli airstrikes.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy, in Venezuela,” Trump said, referring to his government’s influence in Venezuela’s recent leadership transition.
Trump made clear that his objection to Mojtaba Khamenei’s potential leadership stems from concerns that a continuation of his father’s policies could lead to renewed conflict with the United States within a few years.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he stated.
The president argued that the U.S. should help shape the leadership outcome in Iran, framing his position as part of a broader strategy to avoid future hostilities.
According to Trump, a leader who would perpetuate hardline regional policies could drag the U.S. back into war “in five years.”
Iran has not yet formally announced a successor following the death of Ali Khamenei.
Political bodies such as the Assembly of Experts, responsible for choosing the supreme leader, have reportedly delayed the announcement amid internal deliberations, though signals from Tehran suggested a decision could be imminent.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has deep ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and managed his father’s office, but he has never held public elected office, a point critics have used to question his suitability.
Trump drew parallels between Iran’s leadership transition and U.S. involvement in Venezuela earlier this year, when his administration played a role in facilitating political change following military operations there.
The president’s comments have the potential to deepen international controversy, as they touch on fundamental questions of sovereignty and the role of foreign influence in choosing national leaders, particularly in the middle of an ongoing regional crisis.
As diplomatic and military tensions continue to simmer in the Middle East, Trump’s remarks underscore the stark geopolitical stakes involved in Iran’s leadership succession and the broader U.S. strategy in the region.
