Trump demands to choose next Iran supreme leader

Trump demands to choose next Iran supreme leader Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 03/05/2026 - 16:54 US president says Mojtaba Khamenei, son of leader killed in US-Israeli strike and frontrunner for office, is a 'lightweight' Off US President Donald Trump has said he must be directly involved in choosing the new ruler of Iran. Speaking to the Axios news outlet, he referenced his involvement in kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his negotiations in the aftermath as precedent. He also dismissed the idea of Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, taking over in Iran.