President Trump demands United States involvement in selecting successor to late Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei

President Trump rejects Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's successor and voices support for Kurdish forces amidst ongoing U.S. and Israeli military strikes.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 4:43 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The National

United States demands role in Iranian succession

President Donald Trump asserted on Thursday that the United States should be directly involved in the process of choosing the next leader of Iran. Speaking following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the President suggested that Iranian efforts to appoint a successor without American consultation would be a waste of time. While acknowledging that Mojtaba Khamenei is a prominent candidate for the role, the President characterized him as a lightweight and stated that his appointment would be unacceptable to the current U.S. administration.

Strategic objectives and regional conflict

The President warned that the selection of a leader who continues the policies of the previous government could result in renewed military conflict within five years. These remarks come during the sixth day of joint U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets, which followed the death of the Supreme Leader on the first day of the campaign. The President noted that many individuals previously considered as potential successors have also been killed in recent operations, leaving the selection process in its early and uncertain stages.

Potential support for Kurdish military offensives

In recent statements, the President appeared to endorse the idea of Kurdish forces launching an offensive against the Iranian government, describing the prospect as wonderful. However, he declined to confirm whether the United States would provide specific military air cover for such an operation. This comes despite a history of perceived betrayal among Kurdish groups in Syria, where U.S. support was recently withdrawn. While the White House press secretary has denied reports of a formal plan to foment a popular uprising, Kurdish factions remain the most organized segment of the Iranian opposition.