US President Donald Trump has said Iran’s next supreme leader “will not last long” unless Tehran secures approval from Washington to appoint a successor to the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Trump said the incoming leader would need US acceptance to remain in power. “He’s going to have to get approval from us. If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long,” he said.
Trump made the remarks as Iran moves closer to naming a new supreme leader. According to Al Jazeera, Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader, following the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The US president also indicated he would be willing to work with figures linked to the previous Iranian leadership if they prove capable of leading the country responsibly.
Asked whether he would consider approving someone tied to the old regime, Trump replied that he could do so if the individual qualified as a suitable leader.
Trump further claimed Iran had been planning to expand its influence across the Middle East. He said he believed Tehran intended to launch attacks and attempt to dominate the region.
“They are a paper tiger. They weren’t a paper tiger a week ago,” Trump said, adding that he had prevented Iran from pursuing its broader regional ambitions.
The US president also warned that Washington remains prepared to take further action regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
He did not rule out deploying special forces to secure Iran’s enriched uranium, saying, “Everything is on the table.”
