President Donald Trump said the United States expects to play a role in selecting Iran’s future leadership, making the extraordinary claim during an active military conflict between American and Iranian forces.
Speaking to Reuters by phone on Thursday, Trump said Washington wants someone who will bring “harmony and peace” to Iran, and explicitly ruled out Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, as an acceptable successor.
The comments came amid an escalating military campaign. U.S. and Israeli forces have conducted at least 11 waves of strikes against roughly 600 Iranian targets, while Iran has retaliated with over 1,600 drones aimed at Israel, Jordan, Gulf states, and Cyprus.
Trump also expressed support for potential Kurdish military operations inside Iran. Iranian security official Ali Larijani warned that any ground incursion would result in heavy American casualties.
Meanwhile, U.S. Representatives debated the legality of ongoing military operations against Iran, with several members questioning whether the administration had exceeded its constitutional authority by conducting strikes without formal congressional approval.