Donald Trump weighs leadership transition in Iran and cites Venezuela as model for regime change

President Trump suggests the Venezuela model of leadership and oil management for Iran’s future as he weighs potential successors to Ayatollah Khamenei.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 3, 2026, 9:33 PM EST

The Search for a Cooperative Successor

President Donald Trump publicly mused on Tuesday about the "worst case scenario" for Iran’s leadership following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump emphasized the importance of ensuring that any new leadership is favorable to U.S. priorities. He expressed concern that a vacuum could allow for the rise of a figure "as bad as the previous person," noting that a failed transition would undermine the objectives of the current military campaign. The President indicated that the goal of the offensive is not merely to degrade military assets but to prevent the continuation of a radical dictatorship.

The Venezuela Model for Governance

Trump drew parallels between the ongoing conflict in Iran and the recent U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. He highlighted the "seamless" transition in Caracas following the removal of Nicolas Maduro, where Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was installed as interim leader. Trump praised the Rodriguez government for its cooperation and specifically noted the economic benefits derived from the arrangement. He claimed that the U.S. has already extracted 100 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, suggesting that a similar resource sharing model could be implemented in Iran to "pay for the war many times over."

Barriers to Regime Change

Despite his vision for a cooperative Iranian government, Trump acknowledged significant hurdles to implementing a Venezuela style transition. He noted that many potential alternative leaders the U.S. had considered are reportedly dead following the intense aerial strikes. This attrition has left the administration with limited options for an internal replacement. Trump expressed a preference for a moderate figure who is "currently popular" within the country, though he admitted that identifies for such individuals are becoming increasingly difficult to verify amidst the chaos of the war.