“We Have to be Involved”: Trump Asserts U.S. Authority in Selecting Iran’s Next Leader Amid Escalating War

In a telephone interview that has fundamentally altered the diplomatic landscape of the Middle East, President Donald Trump told Reuters on Thursday that the United States “must have a role” in selecting the next leader of Iran. The statement comes just six days after the commencement of “Operation Epic Fury,” a massive U.S.-Israeli military campaign that has already claimed the life of Iran’s longtime Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The President’s comments mark a significant departure from the more cautious rhetoric of his top advisors, who have spent the week insisting that “regime change” is not an official objective of the ongoing strikes. Trump, however, appears to be looking toward a future where Washington has a direct hand in shaping the governance of its long-standing adversary.

Rejecting the Dynasty: “Khamenei’s Son is a Lightweight”

During the interview, Trump was quick to dismiss the possibility of a dynastic succession. Reports from Tehran suggested that the late Supreme Leader’s 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei, had emerged as a frontrunner among the Assembly of Experts—the body responsible for choosing the successor. Trump was blunt in his assessment of the younger Khamenei.

“They are wasting their time,” Trump said. “Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. He is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”

The President emphasized that the goal of his involvement is to break the cycle of conflict that has defined U.S.-Iran relations for decades. “We want to be involved in the process of choosing the person who is going to lead Iran into the future, so we don’t have to go back every five years and do this again and again,” he explained.

The Venezuela Precedent

To illustrate his vision, the President drew a direct parallel to the recent political transition in Venezuela. In January 2026, U.S. forces successfully captured President Nicolás Maduro, leading to the installation of Delcy Rodríguez as acting president. Trump praised Rodríguez’s performance and suggested a similar “hands-on” approach would be applied to the power vacuum in Tehran.

“I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela,” Trump stated. While his administration has officially stated its goals are limited to destroying Iran’s missile infrastructure and ensuring it never obtains a nuclear weapon, Trump’s latest remarks suggest a much broader ambition: a fundamental restructuring of the Iranian state.

Encouraging a Kurdish Offensive

The interview also touched on the growing involvement of regional opposition groups. When asked about reports that Iranian Kurdish militias based in Iraqi Kurdistan were preparing to cross the border and launch an offensive against Iranian security forces, Trump did not hide his support.

“I think it’s wonderful that they want to do that. I’d be all for it,” he told Reuters. When pressed on whether the U.S. would provide air cover for such an intervention, the President was coy, stating, “I can’t tell you that,” but added that the primary objective for the Kurds should be “to win.”

This endorsement comes at a critical moment, as Iran reportedly launched strikes against Kurdish forces in Iraq on Thursday in a preemptive attempt to secure its western borders. The escalation suggests that the conflict is rapidly evolving from a series of targeted airstrikes into a multi-front regional war.

A Navy “At the Bottom of the Sea”

Addressing concerns about global energy markets, Trump signaled confidence in his ability to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. The narrow chokepoint, through which 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, has seen shipping traffic grind to a halt following Iranian attacks on several vessels.

Trump dismissed Iran’s remaining naval threat with characteristic bravado. “They have no navy. You know the navy is now at the bottom of the sea,” he said, referencing the recent sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by a U.S. submarine—the first such torpedo strike since World War II. “I’m watching Hormuz very closely.”

The Search for a New Face

Despite his insistence on involvement, Trump admitted that the ongoing military campaign has complicated the search for a new leader. Earlier in the week, he noted that many of the individuals the U.S. had previously “had in mind” as potential successors had been killed in the initial waves of airstrikes.

“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” Trump told reporters during a separate briefing. “So now we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports.” When asked if the U.S. was considering Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah of Iran, Trump remarked that “everyone is in the mix,” though he hinted that a popular figure from “within” the country might be more appropriate.

As Operation Epic Fury enters its second week, the death toll has exceeded 1,000, and the global economy is bracing for a sustained period of high energy prices and volatility. With the House and Senate both rejecting measures to halt further military action, the President appears to have a clear runway to pursue his vision for a “new Iran”—one that he intends to personally help define.

Would you like me to generate a summary of the international reactions to this interview?