Iran's Succession Heats Up: Donald Trump Calls Mojtaba Khamenei 'Unacceptable'
Iran’s Assembly of Experts has officially appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. This decision was made following the death of the previous leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an airstrike by the United States and Israel. However, the appointment immediately triggered harsh reactions from Washington and new threats from Jerusalem.
US President Donald Trump firmly stated that he viewed Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation to office as an “unacceptable” outcome. Trump emphasised his desire to see a leader who could bring stability to the region.
“Khamenei’s son I cannot accept. We want someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump told Axios.
Although not providing detailed specifications regarding the criteria for the leader he desired, Trump asserted that his primary priority was not the question of democracy in Iran, but rather the political stance of the leader towards US allies.
“I say there must be a leader who is fair and right. Doing great work. Treating the United States and Israel well, and treating other countries in the Middle East well, they are all our partners,” Trump said in an interview with CNN.
When asked whether he was open to a leader from religious circles, Trump did not rule out this possibility. “Well, perhaps, yes. I mean, it depends on who the person is. I have no objection to a religious leader. I deal with many religious leaders and they are outstanding,” he added.
On the other hand, Israel issued a harsher warning. The Israeli government vowed to target whoever replaces the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israeli authorities asserted that they would continue to closely monitor this succession process.
“The long arm of the State of Israel will continue to pursue the successor and anyone who tries to appoint him,” Israeli authorities stated firmly. An Israeli official even questioned whether the Iranian people wanted to be ruled again by Ayatollah circles.
In response to international pressure, Iran’s Assembly of Experts called on the public to support the new leadership. In a statement, the Assembly urged the Iranian people, particularly scholars, academics, and national elites, to remain loyal to Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership and maintain unity under the principle of Velayat-e Faqih.
The Assembly stated that an emergency meeting was held immediately after news of Khamenei’s death emerged, despite the country being in a heavy state of war and facing direct threats to state institutions.
This swift action was claimed to be a constitutional process to avoid a power vacuum in Iran. After lengthy deliberation, the Assembly announced that Mojtaba Khamenei was elected unanimously by its members to become the third leader since the 1979 revolution.