Trump says Iran’s new leader won’t ‘last long’ without US approval
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President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran’s new leader “won’t last long” without U.S. approval as Operation Epic Fury enters its second week.
“It will need approval from us.” Trump told ABC News in an interview. “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he can’t stay in office for long. We want to make sure we don’t have to go back every 10 years when you don’t have a president like me who can’t do that.”
“I don’t want people to have to look back in five years and do the same thing again, or worse, allow themselves to have nuclear weapons,” the president continued.
Trump’s comments followed a report in Iranian state media that a majority consensus had been reached on a new religious leader following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.
Kashmiri Shia Muslims hold photographs of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as they march at a protest rally on the fourth day of mourning in Magam, Jammu and Kashmir, on March 4, 2026. (Faisal Han/Anadolu/Getty Images)
Mohammed Mehdi Mirbaqeri, who serves on Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the religious body tasked with choosing the supreme leader, did not name any names but acknowledged to Mehr News Agency that there were still “some obstacles.”
ABC News reported that Trump said it was possible he might side with someone with ties to the old regime.
“I would, yes I would, to be able to choose a good leader. There are a lot of people who could have those qualities,” he said.
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President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday, February 28, 2026 that the United States launched an attack on Iran. (White House via X Account/Anatolia via Getty Images)
Associated Press reported It is stated that some names are seen as potential successors of Iran’s religious leadership. These include:
- Mojtaba Khamenei – Son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
- Ali Riza Arafi — Senior Shiite cleric
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- Hasan Rouhani – Former president of Iran
- Hassan Khomeini – Grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic
- Muhammad Mehdi Mirbageri — President of the Islamic Cultural Center in Qom
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Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz He warned the Iranian administration A post published last week on
“It doesn’t matter what his name is or where he’s hiding,” Katz said.
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