US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iranian leadership informally suggested he become the country’s next Supreme Leader, an offer he says he flatly rejected.
Speaking at the annual National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) fundraising dinner in Washington, Trump alleged the proposal was floated after a US-Israeli military campaign resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“There’s never been a head of a country that wanted that job less than being the head of Iran,” Trump told the audience. He claimed the officials told him, “We’d like to make you the next supreme leader,” to which he reportedly responded, “No, thank you. I don’t want it.”
Following the assassination of the former Ayatollah, Iran has elevated his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, to the position of Supreme Leader. Despite this transition, Trump insisted that a power vacuum exists and that Tehran is privately desperate to reach a settlement to end the nearly month-long war.
#Watch | US President Donald Trump has claimed that the people of Iran want to make him their supreme leader, but according to him, he is not interested in taking the position
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Trump claimed that Iranian officials are currently engaged in negotiations with Washington but are unwilling to admit it publicly for fear of a domestic mutiny or further US military action.
“They want to make a deal so badly, but they’re afraid to say it because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people,” Trump remarked.
However, the Iranian government has shown no indication of retreating and continues to publicly deny that any such negotiations are taking place. While the White House maintains that peace discussions are ongoing, Tehran has dismissed US overtures and issued a series of its own demands.
According to state-owned Press TV, Iran’s conditions for ending the conflict – which has caused significant disruption to global markets and the Middle East – include formal reparations for war damages and guarantees that the US and Israel will cease all military operations.
Tehran is also demanding international recognition of its sovereign authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
