Donald Trump has warned that Iran’s next supreme leader may struggle to remain in power without approval from Washington, as Iran prepares to announce a successor to the late Ali Khamenei.
Nine days after US-Israeli air strikes killed Khamenei and escalated tensions across the Middle East, Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts reportedly met behind closed doors and selected a new leader.
Members of the body confirmed that a successor had been chosen but declined to reveal the name, saying an official announcement would be made soon.Speculation has grown that Khamenei’s 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei, could replace his father. However, Trump previously dismissed the possibility, describing Mojtaba as an unacceptable “lightweight.”
“He’s going to have to get approval from us,” Trump said during an interview with ABC News. “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long.”
Iran’s government swiftly rejected the remarks, insisting the choice of supreme leader is a purely domestic matter.Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the decision would be made solely by Tehran and warned against outside interference.
Speaking on Meet the Press on NBC, Araghchi said Iran would not allow foreign powers to influence its leadership selection. He also called on Trump to apologise to the people of the region for the growing conflict.
Mojtaba Khamenei is widely regarded as a conservative figure within Iran’s political system, partly due to his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces warned that any successor to Khamenei could become a potential target if the conflict continues.
Overnight, Israeli forces launched additional operations targeting facilities in and around Tehran. Air strikes hit several fuel storage sites and oil facilities, killing at least four people and sending thick smoke across parts of the city.
Another strike reportedly hit a hotel in central Beirut believed to be hosting suspected Iranian commanders.
Authorities in Tehran said the attacks disrupted fuel distribution in the capital, while residents reported a dark haze covering the city of about 10 million people. Officials warned that fumes from the fires could be toxic and advised residents to remain indoors
.As the war entered its ninth day, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed the country has enough resources to continue drone and missile strikes across the region for up to six months.
Explosions were also reported over Tel Aviv after Israeli defence systems detected a new wave of Iranian missiles. Emergency services said at least six people were injured in central Israel.
Trump again declined to rule out deploying US ground troops in Iran but insisted the war was close to being won despite ongoing missile and drone attacks.
The US president also held talks with Keir Starmer on Sunday to discuss military cooperation. United Kingdom has permitted the United States to use its military bases for what it described as collective self-defence operations in the region.
Meanwhile, an Iranian military spokesman said the country had so far deployed only first- and second-generation missiles but warned that more advanced long-range weapons could be used in the coming days if the conflict escalates further.
