Donald Trump has stated that Iran’s next supreme leader may not remain in power for long without approval from the United States.
Speaking during an interview with ABC News on Sunday, the U.S. president suggested that Washington should have a say in the leadership transition in Iran. According to him, any new leader in the Middle Eastern nation would face serious challenges if the United States does not support their emergence.
His remarks came amid rising tensions following the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, during the early stages of a conflict involving the United States and Israel.
Reacting to Trump’s statement, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, rejected the suggestion that the United States could influence the country’s leadership selection. He insisted that only the Iranian people have the authority to determine who becomes the next supreme leader.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Araghchi emphasized that Iran would not tolerate foreign interference in its internal affairs. He also called on Trump to apologise for initiating the war with Iran.
Trump had earlier argued that he should be involved in the process of selecting Iran’s next supreme leader after Khamenei’s death. He also ruled out the possibility of Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, succeeding his father.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Iranian clerical council responsible for choosing the country’s supreme leader has already conducted a vote and is expected to announce the new leader soon.
