US President Donald Trump has said he wishes to be personally involved in the selection of Iran’s next supreme leader and has declared Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, unacceptable.
Speaking to US media, Trump said Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could emerge as a possible successor in Iran. He said Washington would not accept a leader who continued the policies of Ayatollah Khamenei and instead sought a figure capable of bringing unity and peace to the country.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Axios quoted Trump as saying in an interview.
Trump also said he needed to be involved in the appointment of Iran’s next leader, drawing a comparison with past diplomatic dealings.
According to Iranian sources cited by Reuters, Mojtaba Khamenei survived recent US and Israeli air strikes in Iran in which his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed.
A mid-ranking cleric with close links to Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, Mojtaba Khamenei holds considerable influence within the country’s clerical establishment and is widely regarded as a possible successor.
Iran has not yet announced a new supreme leader.
Trump also criticised the British prime minister and Spain. He said Sir Keir Starmer was not Winston Churchill and expressed surprise and disappointment at the British premier’s stance.
He said Britain had proved “very disappointing” and added that everyone knew an enemy stood ready to attack. Trump said that Sir Keir should provide bases without hesitation.
Despite the criticism, the US president said relations with Sir Keir remained good, though he sometimes failed to take necessary action.
Trump also criticised Spain, saying many countries had proved successful but Spain had failed. He termed Madrid’s conduct as irresponsible and said the country held hostility towards NATO.
