President Donald Trump says Iran’s leadership transition could deepen the country’s problems as U.S.–Israeli military operations continue targeting the regime’s military infrastructure.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said Monday he was disappointed by Iran’s decision to elevate Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader, warning that the leadership change could worsen conditions inside Iran as the U.S.–Israeli military campaign against the regime intensifies.
Trump made the remarks during a press conference at Trump National Doral in Florida, where he addressed questions about Iran’s political transition following the death of the country’s longtime leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran announced Mojtaba Khamenei—son of the slain supreme leader—as his successor after a brief leadership crisis that unfolded in the aftermath of the elder Khamenei’s death during a joint U.S.–Israeli strike targeting senior Iranian officials late last month.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he believed the regime’s decision to elevate Mojtaba Khamenei would likely perpetuate the same problems that have defined Iran’s leadership for decades.
“I was disappointed because we think it’s going to lead to just more of the same problem for the country. So I was disappointed to see their choice,” Trump said.
The appointment marked a historic moment for the Islamic Republic, representing the first time leadership has passed from a supreme leader directly to a family member. Mojtaba Khamenei had long been viewed as an influential figure behind the scenes within Iran’s political and security establishment before formally assuming power.
Trump said he would prefer Iran’s leadership transition to be handled internally in a way that maintains stability rather than creating a vacuum that could produce extremist movements.
“I like the idea of internal because it works well. I mean, I think we’ve proven that so far in Venezuela. We have a woman, Delcy, who has been president of the country, very respected, she’s doing a great job, and it’s no disruption,” he said.
Trump contrasted that approach with the collapse of Iraq’s governing structure following the removal of Saddam Hussein, which he said created instability that ultimately contributed to the rise of the Islamic State terrorist group.
“As you remember Iraq, where everybody got fired, the military got fired, the police got fired, the politicians got fired. There was nobody. And you know what they turned into: ISIS. And we don’t want that,” Trump added.
The leadership change in Tehran comes as U.S. forces continue executing Operation Epic Fury, a military campaign launched on Feb. 28 targeting Iran’s missile capabilities, naval forces, and nuclear infrastructure.
Trump said the operation is progressing faster than expected and indicated the conflict could end sooner than previously predicted. According to the president, American forces have destroyed 51 Iranian ships during the campaign.
He said the war could conclude “very soon,” adding that Tehran made “a big mistake” in selecting Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s next leader.
Trump has previously suggested that the United States should play a role in determining Iran’s future leadership and has indicated he could support an internal political figure rather than an exiled opposition candidate such as Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment followed days of turmoil inside Iran after his father’s death. During the succession process, Israeli strikes targeted locations connected to the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said at the time that whoever succeeded Ali Khamenei would be considered an “unequivocal target for elimination.”
Iranian officials have condemned U.S. military actions in the region. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the destruction of Iranian naval vessels and warned Washington that it would “bitterly regret” its actions.
Military operations have continued across the region, with U.S. submarines engaging Iranian warships in international waters while Israeli forces have carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.
Trump said he does not have a message for Iran’s new leader but called on Iranian diplomats and officials who oppose the regime to seek asylum and assist in rebuilding the country.
He also praised the performance of the U.S. military during the ongoing campaign, rating the operation a “15” on a scale of one to ten and stating that the United States possesses extensive munitions reserves.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Washington debated the scope of U.S. military authority in the conflict. On March 5, the Senate rejected a war powers resolution that would have required congressional approval for continued military strikes against Iran, voting 47–53 against the measure.
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