United States President Donald Trump has warned that whoever becomes Iran’s next Supreme Leader will need Washington’s approval to stay in power. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Trump said the individual “is not going to last long” without it.
Trump stressed that his administration seeks a lasting solution to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear threat. “I don’t want people to have to go back in five years and do the same thing again—or worse, let them have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
When asked about supporting a potential leader with ties to Iran’s former ruling structure, Trump said he would consider it if the person could guarantee stability.
He also criticized Iran’s regional ambitions, calling the country a “paper tiger” and claiming it had planned to extend its influence across the Middle East before recent developments.
Trump added that all options remain on the table, including possible military action or deploying special forces to secure Iran’s enriched uranium.
His remarks come as Iran’s clerical body reportedly concludes voting on a successor to the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
